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A Victorian San Francisco Mystery #1
Maids of Misfortune
It's the summer of 1879, and Annie Fuller, a young San Francisco widow, is in trouble. Annie's husband squandered her fortune before committing suicide five years earlier, and one of his creditors is now threatening to take the boardinghouse she owns to pay off a debt. Annie Fuller also has a secret. She supplements her income by giving domestic and business advice as Madam Sibyl, one of San Francisco's most exclusive clairvoyants, and one of Madam Sibyl's clients, Matthew Voss, has died. The police believe his death was suicide brought upon by bankruptcy, but Annie believes Voss has been murdered and that his assets have been stolen.Nate Dawson has a problem. As the Voss family lawyer, he would love to believe that Matthew Voss didn't leave his grieving family destitute. But that would mean working with Annie Fuller, a woman who alternatively attracts and infuriates him as she shatters every notion he ever had of proper ladylike behavior.Sparks fly as Anne and Nate pursue the truth about the murder of Matthew Voss in this light-hearted historical mystery set in the foggy gas-lit world of Victorian San Francisco.
327 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
M. Louisa Locke
30 books483 followersAfter being a professor of history for over 30 years, I am now retired and writing full time. The books in my Victorian San Francisco Mystery series are based in part on my dissertation research on women who worked in the Far West at the end of the Nineteenth Century, and they feature Annie Fuller, a young widow who gives domestic and business advice as the clairvoyant, Madam Sibyl. She is aided in her investigations into crime by Nate Dawson, a local lawyer, and the residents in the boarding house she owns.
Maids of Misfortune, the first in the series, finds Annie investigating a murder by going undercover as a domestics servant. In Uneasy Spirits, she is asked to investigate a fraudulent trance medium, and in Bloody Lessons, she is asked to find out who is attacking local public school teachers. The fourth book, Deadly Proof is set in the printing industry in San Francisco, and in the fifth book, Pilfered Promises, Annie and Nate investigate theft and murder in a modern department store.
Book six in this collection, Scholarly Pursuits, takes Laura Dawson and her friends (introduced in Bloody Lessons) across the Bay to Berkeley to attend the university where unexpected skulduggery is afoot. In Lethal Remedies, Annie is tasked with uncovering who is trying to ruin a clinic run by and for women, and in Entangled Threads it is a woolen factory that is the site of her investigations.
Volume One of my collection of short stories about minor characters, Victorian San Francisco Stories, are free to anyone who signs up to my newsletter. (see my website for sign up at http://mlouisalocke.com)
Not content with just writing about the past, under the pen name Louisa Locke, I have now turned to the future with a new science fiction series set in the collaborative world of the Paradisi Chronicles.
As an indie author I absolutely depend on the readers who have read and liked my cozy historical mysteries and spread the word. This second career has turned out to be more fun and rewarding than i ever thought possible. So thanks to all of you!
Maids of Misfortune, the first in the series, finds Annie investigating a murder by going undercover as a domestics servant. In Uneasy Spirits, she is asked to investigate a fraudulent trance medium, and in Bloody Lessons, she is asked to find out who is attacking local public school teachers. The fourth book, Deadly Proof is set in the printing industry in San Francisco, and in the fifth book, Pilfered Promises, Annie and Nate investigate theft and murder in a modern department store.
Book six in this collection, Scholarly Pursuits, takes Laura Dawson and her friends (introduced in Bloody Lessons) across the Bay to Berkeley to attend the university where unexpected skulduggery is afoot. In Lethal Remedies, Annie is tasked with uncovering who is trying to ruin a clinic run by and for women, and in Entangled Threads it is a woolen factory that is the site of her investigations.
Volume One of my collection of short stories about minor characters, Victorian San Francisco Stories, are free to anyone who signs up to my newsletter. (see my website for sign up at http://mlouisalocke.com)
Not content with just writing about the past, under the pen name Louisa Locke, I have now turned to the future with a new science fiction series set in the collaborative world of the Paradisi Chronicles.
As an indie author I absolutely depend on the readers who have read and liked my cozy historical mysteries and spread the word. This second career has turned out to be more fun and rewarding than i ever thought possible. So thanks to all of you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,084 reviews
August 3, 2022
4 stars to M. Louisa Locke's Maids of Misfortune, the first book in the "Victorian San Francisco" mystery series and a great blend of murder mystery charm and historical shenanigans. I found the book on Amazon as a free Kindle e-read and thought it would be something slightly different... and it was a welcome read I recommend for anyone looking for a historical cozy.
Story
Annie Fuller is a 26-year-old widow, owning and operating a b&b out of her Victorian home by day, and working as Madam Sybil by night (no, not a harlot!). She's not exactly psychic, and definitely not interested in a seance or a crystal ball; she's a financial wizard who helps people make money by reading their astrology and horoscopes. As a woman in a man's world, nearly 150 years ago, she had to pretend she was just clairvoyant in order to build her client portfolio and be successful. But when her favorite customer appears to commit suicide, she's just not having it. With all the protocols of 1879 in tow, she disguises herself as a maid in her former client's house to discover which member of his family killed him for the money he had just made in the stock market. Along the way, she stumbles upon a second death and is able to convince the police that her former client's death wasn't suicide. But she's also earned a few enemies who don't believe she's a real maid. With a cast of friends and clients helping her keep up the ruse, Annie investigates using good ole' fashioned wit and gossip, given there are no computers, cars or cell phones. But she's got another problem to deal with too... her late husband, that buffoon, left her with an enormous debt and the loan shark is trying to steal her b&b out from under her in order to even the score. Who knew the 70's... the 1870's... had so much murderous fun!?!?!
Strengths
1. The plot is strong and full of red herrings. The struggle to find the killer without any modern technology or transportation provides an entirely different (and long forgotten) mode of investigation: using yours words, your eyes and your ears.
2. The Victorian setting is charming and offers a much needed change of pace for the cozy murder mystery. Readers will flock to Agatha Christie's quaint English villages, but here's a perfect setting for historical American heritage. And who doesn't love San Francisco... especially in the 1870s... Gold Rush! Publishing! Horse-drawn carriages!
Suggestions
1. The pace is a little slow. It's not at all bad or painful, but I think it could use a little extra spice. It fits with the time period, but I think with a bit of panache, the story would jump even further off the page. Cover a little more about what's happening in SF at the time. Add some history to the founding families. Relate it to a modern reader so they invest a little more for the whole series.
2. Explore more about Madam Sybil. She's great... I want to see her in action and understand how she works!
Final Thoughts
There is something different here... something worth giving a chance. If you're a historical fiction fan, with a potential interest in mystery, pick it up and read it. There is a lot of description about life in the 1870s, which will appeal to traditional readers.
If you love cozies, the "small, cozy little town" isn't part of this series; however, the mindset and the relationships are absolutely one on the same: gossip is abound and people know exactly what to say. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Story
Annie Fuller is a 26-year-old widow, owning and operating a b&b out of her Victorian home by day, and working as Madam Sybil by night (no, not a harlot!). She's not exactly psychic, and definitely not interested in a seance or a crystal ball; she's a financial wizard who helps people make money by reading their astrology and horoscopes. As a woman in a man's world, nearly 150 years ago, she had to pretend she was just clairvoyant in order to build her client portfolio and be successful. But when her favorite customer appears to commit suicide, she's just not having it. With all the protocols of 1879 in tow, she disguises herself as a maid in her former client's house to discover which member of his family killed him for the money he had just made in the stock market. Along the way, she stumbles upon a second death and is able to convince the police that her former client's death wasn't suicide. But she's also earned a few enemies who don't believe she's a real maid. With a cast of friends and clients helping her keep up the ruse, Annie investigates using good ole' fashioned wit and gossip, given there are no computers, cars or cell phones. But she's got another problem to deal with too... her late husband, that buffoon, left her with an enormous debt and the loan shark is trying to steal her b&b out from under her in order to even the score. Who knew the 70's... the 1870's... had so much murderous fun!?!?!
Strengths
1. The plot is strong and full of red herrings. The struggle to find the killer without any modern technology or transportation provides an entirely different (and long forgotten) mode of investigation: using yours words, your eyes and your ears.
2. The Victorian setting is charming and offers a much needed change of pace for the cozy murder mystery. Readers will flock to Agatha Christie's quaint English villages, but here's a perfect setting for historical American heritage. And who doesn't love San Francisco... especially in the 1870s... Gold Rush! Publishing! Horse-drawn carriages!
Suggestions
1. The pace is a little slow. It's not at all bad or painful, but I think it could use a little extra spice. It fits with the time period, but I think with a bit of panache, the story would jump even further off the page. Cover a little more about what's happening in SF at the time. Add some history to the founding families. Relate it to a modern reader so they invest a little more for the whole series.
2. Explore more about Madam Sybil. She's great... I want to see her in action and understand how she works!
Final Thoughts
There is something different here... something worth giving a chance. If you're a historical fiction fan, with a potential interest in mystery, pick it up and read it. There is a lot of description about life in the 1870s, which will appeal to traditional readers.
If you love cozies, the "small, cozy little town" isn't part of this series; however, the mindset and the relationships are absolutely one on the same: gossip is abound and people know exactly what to say. I look forward to the next book in this series.
October 13, 2021
What Is A World Without Women?
In nineteenth century, San Francisco, Mrs. Annie Fuller, ekes out a living as Madam Sybil, a clairvoyant.
She carries her business in the boarding house she runs, in disguise, unable to give excellent stock advice as a woman.
But Annie is good at more than giving stock advice. She also has a gift for solving mysteries.
And despite being called a busybody for “interfering,” she has no desire to listen when she is bullied into butting out.
With a timely history of San Francisco in the background, this is one historical mystery that is a winner.
In nineteenth century, San Francisco, Mrs. Annie Fuller, ekes out a living as Madam Sybil, a clairvoyant.
She carries her business in the boarding house she runs, in disguise, unable to give excellent stock advice as a woman.
But Annie is good at more than giving stock advice. She also has a gift for solving mysteries.
And despite being called a busybody for “interfering,” she has no desire to listen when she is bullied into butting out.
With a timely history of San Francisco in the background, this is one historical mystery that is a winner.
April 23, 2017
A historical mystery set in post-gold rush day of San Francisco that features a widow /boarding house owner/ fortune teller who actually dispenses investment advices. Sounds like a very interesting premise. Unfortunately, the novel was only marginally entertaining for me. With such a historically rich setting, the plot was surprisingly slow and boring with stilted dialogue. When writing historical fiction featuring a strong and independent heroine, there is always a danger of overdoing it and making her behavior neither believable nor real. This was the case here. And not necessarily because the heroine was too forward or too 21st century in her thinking. There was that, of course. If only she stayed consistent... I don't think I would continue with the series.
March 8, 2011
It can be difficult for me to read books about San Francisco; it irritates me when they take too many liberties, and it annoys me when they get things wrong. That said, Victorian San Francisco was done well, and I felt like the setting was well handled; it was S.F., but it wasn't overdone, and it was never really about the city.
Rather, the book was about Mrs. Annie Fuller, the widow who has found a way to eke out a living by running a boarding house and offering financial advice as the clairvoyant Sybil. Things get complicated, however, when an old associate seeks to call in her dead husband's debts and a friend turns up dead.
I found myself satisfied by the story, the developments of characters and relationships felt natural and well paced. I didn't feel like anyone was terribly unbelievable, and I hadn't solved the mystery within the first couple chapters, all of which bodes well for the title. There are seemingly more titles forthcoming by this author, and I'm likely to seek them out, as this one was very good.
Rather, the book was about Mrs. Annie Fuller, the widow who has found a way to eke out a living by running a boarding house and offering financial advice as the clairvoyant Sybil. Things get complicated, however, when an old associate seeks to call in her dead husband's debts and a friend turns up dead.
I found myself satisfied by the story, the developments of characters and relationships felt natural and well paced. I didn't feel like anyone was terribly unbelievable, and I hadn't solved the mystery within the first couple chapters, all of which bodes well for the title. There are seemingly more titles forthcoming by this author, and I'm likely to seek them out, as this one was very good.
October 22, 2015
Started as a pleasant enough read, only to end not as a mystery left alone a detective novel, but a romance. And a sloppy one at that too. The criminal was predictable as was the plot and even an attempt to try and tempt the reader into guessing the wrong person as the perpetrator was a weak one. Dwelt too much on the feeling Annie and Nate had for each other, and one could not help wonder why all the twist if the story would end as easily and untroubled as it was? Should have put more Sybil in there.
August 8, 2018
Hmmm, this was okay. It's a light and cheesy murder mystery.
Annie Fuller gets involved in a murder and tries to help solve it. Police & lawyer friends leak her information. Dialogue is uneven. The ending is unlikely, to say the least.
I can't say I disliked the story but for the most part it had me raising an eyebrow over the shifts in direction, the police who can't read a clue (but Annie can). Lots of red herrings and misdirection, most of it obvious.
2-star = "it was okay". Exactly. Meh.
Annie Fuller gets involved in a murder and tries to help solve it. Police & lawyer friends leak her information. Dialogue is uneven. The ending is unlikely, to say the least.
I can't say I disliked the story but for the most part it had me raising an eyebrow over the shifts in direction, the police who can't read a clue (but Annie can). Lots of red herrings and misdirection, most of it obvious.
2-star = "it was okay". Exactly. Meh.
April 17, 2011
I loved the character of Annie Fuller from the first page. Already a widow at the age of twenty-six, she's been pushed around, mistreated, gone from wealth right down to destitution and still pulled herself back. As the story opens, we find her the owner of a respectable boarding house, enjoying the independence she deserves. And if I had to describe Annie Fuller in one word, 'independent' is the word I would use. Nobody tells this lady how to behave!
She augments her modest living by masquerading as a clairvoyant, specialising in business advice. It's the only way that men of the 1870s would accept financial guidance from a woman - a pity, as Annie is very good at it indeed. Then one of her favourite clients is killed. The police say it is suicide, but Annie is certain it was murder.
To make matters worse, a creditor of her dead husband's is trying to collect an old debt from Annie which she cannot pay. The only way she can avoid losing her home is to solve the mystery of Matthew Voss's death - and in the process find out what became of the assets he left to her in his will. Annie's a determined woman. With the help of the stubborn but loveable lawyer, Nate Dawson, there's nothing she won't do to learn the truth about the mysterious Voss family and the night that Matthew was killed.
I enjoyed the historical details in this tale, and the writing style is lively and easy to read. Its real strength, though, is the characters. They're believable, interesting, and they really do seem to be visiting straight from the 1870s. I'm looking forward to the next book from this author.
She augments her modest living by masquerading as a clairvoyant, specialising in business advice. It's the only way that men of the 1870s would accept financial guidance from a woman - a pity, as Annie is very good at it indeed. Then one of her favourite clients is killed. The police say it is suicide, but Annie is certain it was murder.
To make matters worse, a creditor of her dead husband's is trying to collect an old debt from Annie which she cannot pay. The only way she can avoid losing her home is to solve the mystery of Matthew Voss's death - and in the process find out what became of the assets he left to her in his will. Annie's a determined woman. With the help of the stubborn but loveable lawyer, Nate Dawson, there's nothing she won't do to learn the truth about the mysterious Voss family and the night that Matthew was killed.
I enjoyed the historical details in this tale, and the writing style is lively and easy to read. Its real strength, though, is the characters. They're believable, interesting, and they really do seem to be visiting straight from the 1870s. I'm looking forward to the next book from this author.
September 3, 2019
I like a good 'who dunnit' novel with a little side of romance chemistry. Though this book was longer than expected it was still a good read. The descriptions and scenes can sometimes get lengthy but it did not take away from the overall plot of the book. The romance is very light and not the over the top insta-love we see in most books these days. Plus Annie and Nate did have me chuckling a time or two and I enjoy when a book can make me smile.
If you're looking for a mystery that doesn't instantly reveal the killer, I recommend this one. Kept me going back and forth with all the suspects.
If you're looking for a mystery that doesn't instantly reveal the killer, I recommend this one. Kept me going back and forth with all the suspects.
June 18, 2012
Absolutely delightful cozy mystery with plots and twists to get your teeth into. I loved the way I was drawn straight into the life of Annie, a young widow running a boarding house and who mascarades as a clairvoyant to make ends meet. One of her clients dies and to all intents and purposes it looks like suicide, but not to Annie who find anomalies in the subsequent reporting of his death as well as vital business papers missing that lead her to suspect murder. Then she leaps on the trail even though she is discouraged at every turn because she is 'a lady' and this kind of activity is deemed as 'unbecoming' and thus frustrates her so. But she is unstoppable and knows her own mind.
The story was enthralling and there were a sufficient number of red herrings and twists that made you think you knew who had committed the crime until another twist sends you off in a different direction. I am absolutely thrilled as an avid reader to have discovered M.Louisa Locke. Think Murdoch Mysteries and you will find Ms Locke's mysteries along similar lines but with a female sleuth, and heaps better.
The story was enthralling and there were a sufficient number of red herrings and twists that made you think you knew who had committed the crime until another twist sends you off in a different direction. I am absolutely thrilled as an avid reader to have discovered M.Louisa Locke. Think Murdoch Mysteries and you will find Ms Locke's mysteries along similar lines but with a female sleuth, and heaps better.
January 7, 2015
Annie Fuller, widow, runs a boarding house and supplemets her income by posing as a psychic medium providing financial, business and relationship advise from her San Francisco home. She's about to lose her home to the man who helped ruin her husband. When one of her favorite clients, Matthew Voss dies unexpectedly, leaving her $10 and shares in a mining company, Annie is stunned. The police claim suidice due to financial ruin but Annie knows that is far from true. She sets out to discover the truth, with the help of the Voss' lawyer, Nate Dawson. Nate is not thrilled with Annie's unconventional, unladylike behavior, but Annie is determined to do things her way. She has come too far since her husband's death to go back to being meek. She has a chance to save her home, her friends and help her client one last time. The course of her investigation leads her to pose as a maid in the Voss household where she goes up against a snooty ladies' maid Cartier, Mr. Voss' Bible-thumping sister Miss Voss. She finds an unexpected ally in Wong, Matthew's manservant but discovers that all is not right in the household and one of them must have murdered Matthew. Annie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery with or without Nate's help.
This cozy mystery is quite good. Though there are a lot of standard plot points in this novel, I enjoyed it. I did figure out who the murderer was right away but there were enough red herrings to keep me interested. The period details are largely limited to the role of women but I don't know enough about San Francisco at that time to say much about the description. It's not so easy to tell the story is set in 1879 because the characters sound more modern and the descriptions of San Francisco are limited. It is a very 19th century story though, just not really specific to 1879.There was also a light romance that made the story more enjoyable. Annie and Nate enjoy a typical love/hate relationship common in period pieces. Annie is unconventional and ahead of her time and Nate was brought up with traditional values though his sister apparently isn't so traditional. I liked the banter between Annie and Nate and how she taught him to rethink his values. He did it willingly instead of being the alpha male and demanding Annie stay safe at home, which was a nice change from the typical Victorian novel. The romance has enough spark to satisfy those who enjoy love stories but it limited to kisses only.
I loved Annie. Her character growth seems to have happened already but I liked how she realized she needed to change and how far she's come. I loved how she stuck to her convinctions and how she was a loyal friend to Matthew after his death. Her activities as Madame Sybil are really interesting and I admire how she was able to turn her passion into a business though women weren't allowed to be stock brokers or financial advisors.
I hope to read the rest of the series if I can get it. This was a freebie kindle download on Amazon and it did not disapoint.
This cozy mystery is quite good. Though there are a lot of standard plot points in this novel, I enjoyed it. I did figure out who the murderer was right away but there were enough red herrings to keep me interested. The period details are largely limited to the role of women but I don't know enough about San Francisco at that time to say much about the description. It's not so easy to tell the story is set in 1879 because the characters sound more modern and the descriptions of San Francisco are limited. It is a very 19th century story though, just not really specific to 1879.There was also a light romance that made the story more enjoyable. Annie and Nate enjoy a typical love/hate relationship common in period pieces. Annie is unconventional and ahead of her time and Nate was brought up with traditional values though his sister apparently isn't so traditional. I liked the banter between Annie and Nate and how she taught him to rethink his values. He did it willingly instead of being the alpha male and demanding Annie stay safe at home, which was a nice change from the typical Victorian novel. The romance has enough spark to satisfy those who enjoy love stories but it limited to kisses only.
I loved Annie. Her character growth seems to have happened already but I liked how she realized she needed to change and how far she's come. I loved how she stuck to her convinctions and how she was a loyal friend to Matthew after his death. Her activities as Madame Sybil are really interesting and I admire how she was able to turn her passion into a business though women weren't allowed to be stock brokers or financial advisors.
I hope to read the rest of the series if I can get it. This was a freebie kindle download on Amazon and it did not disapoint.
November 25, 2016
Annie Fuller is a widow living in post-Civil War San Francisco, running a boardinghouse as both herself and her alter-ego Madame Sybil. When one of her clients turns up toes up, she decides to investigate! Also there's an attractive lawyer (i.e., crime-solving partner and maybe something more?), the deceased man's family (i.e., "suspects"), and a stint as an undercover maid and you've got yourself an American detective story.
1. While the story had elements I enjoyed (Victorian San Francisco! Alter-egos! Mystery solving!) the story itself was rather poorly crafted. Foreshadowing was used like a shovel to the face rather than as a seasoning; the romance was shoddily done; and the mystery was transparent, like a ghost. Also the writing could have done with a firm polishing.
To speak to the romance: in addition to being poorly written, it was kind of gross?? Nate Dawson (the attractive lawyer) see-saws back and forth on the emotional slide rule of ~attraction like he's on a tilt-a-whirl. The face he presents to Annie is set to default "GRUMP" mode, which makes it very awkward when Annie begins to develop feelings for someone she is continually arguing with. He's literally a jerk to her for the majority of the book, and it isn't until his few POV chapters that the audience is made aware that he's a grumpy asshole because he's got a ~~crush on Annie.
Which: that's gross shit. Don't romanticize that "boys will be boys" nonsense. If a boy is going to be a raging asshole, he deserves nothing but derision and the lesson that until he can treat women as equals and as persons in their own right, he should GET BENT. (I do acknowledge that Nate shows a iota of understanding very near to the end of the novel when he acknowledges that he can't tell Annie what to do but in the mantra of Kris: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.)
2. Called the evil-doer the moment they were named. ALSO, the individual in question goes OFF THE RAILS without very much reason and it's kind of impossible to look away from because it's just so out of left field. I DON'T EVEN.
3. Annie has an alter-ego that is present for like 2 chapters and is then mentioned only in passing. Sounds like she was doing some stereotypical nonsense in portraying 'Madame Sybil' anyways, but I question why the character was included at all then.
4. Also, the disconnect between Annie and Nate and the police is like cosmic, which led me to wondering what the story would have looked like without their interference and/or with more cooperation with the police?? I'm just not sure what value they added beyond mucking things up quite a bit, misleading the police, and then finally getting the villain to reveal themselves. But only after putting a lot of people in danger.
5. I did like the setting quite a bit: semi-post-frontier San Francisco, with a heroine who knows business and ain't taking no shit? I could be there for that! But it was underdeveloped and overdrawn at the same time, leaving me feeling out of sorts with the whole thing.
1. While the story had elements I enjoyed (Victorian San Francisco! Alter-egos! Mystery solving!) the story itself was rather poorly crafted. Foreshadowing was used like a shovel to the face rather than as a seasoning; the romance was shoddily done; and the mystery was transparent, like a ghost. Also the writing could have done with a firm polishing.
To speak to the romance: in addition to being poorly written, it was kind of gross?? Nate Dawson (the attractive lawyer) see-saws back and forth on the emotional slide rule of ~attraction like he's on a tilt-a-whirl. The face he presents to Annie is set to default "GRUMP" mode, which makes it very awkward when Annie begins to develop feelings for someone she is continually arguing with. He's literally a jerk to her for the majority of the book, and it isn't until his few POV chapters that the audience is made aware that he's a grumpy asshole because he's got a ~~crush on Annie.
Which: that's gross shit. Don't romanticize that "boys will be boys" nonsense. If a boy is going to be a raging asshole, he deserves nothing but derision and the lesson that until he can treat women as equals and as persons in their own right, he should GET BENT. (I do acknowledge that Nate shows a iota of understanding very near to the end of the novel when he acknowledges that he can't tell Annie what to do but in the mantra of Kris: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.)
2. Called the evil-doer the moment they were named. ALSO, the individual in question goes OFF THE RAILS without very much reason and it's kind of impossible to look away from because it's just so out of left field. I DON'T EVEN.
3. Annie has an alter-ego that is present for like 2 chapters and is then mentioned only in passing. Sounds like she was doing some stereotypical nonsense in portraying 'Madame Sybil' anyways, but I question why the character was included at all then.
4. Also, the disconnect between Annie and Nate and the police is like cosmic, which led me to wondering what the story would have looked like without their interference and/or with more cooperation with the police?? I'm just not sure what value they added beyond mucking things up quite a bit, misleading the police, and then finally getting the villain to reveal themselves. But only after putting a lot of people in danger.
5. I did like the setting quite a bit: semi-post-frontier San Francisco, with a heroine who knows business and ain't taking no shit? I could be there for that! But it was underdeveloped and overdrawn at the same time, leaving me feeling out of sorts with the whole thing.
March 20, 2013
I would not have finished this book if not for sheer stubbornness and because I hoped it would really highlight San Francisco -- it didn't. Annie, the main character, proclaims her intelligence and female independence at every opportunity but fails to make intelligent decisions and somehow manages to address every male she encounters with a breathy "Oh, Nate," or "Oh, Wong" -- as do most female characters, save one "old" and "bitter" spinster. The plot is riddled with holes, but they're often hard to notice because the dialogue and story itself are so distractingly inane.
Do not read this book.
Do not read this book.
October 8, 2017
I SO enjoyed reading this Victorian historical mystery novel, there's just something about the era that both mesmerises and disgusts. (People actually wanted to go into service?)
I've noticed a particular trait of these novels is a strong female protagonist, something which was apparently taboo of that era. I get the impression women were to be seen and not heard, that expressing an opinion was something not to worry their pretty little heads about.
The novel was extremely well written with characters that were warm and full of depth, even the not so nice characters, so that you couldn't help but be invested. Yes, there was a tad of romance in the story, but it was a genteel one so I was able to stomach it. (Yeah, yeah ..... I know. A female that HATES Romance novels??)
There were red herrings abound and I found myself constantly changing my mind as to who the perpetrator was. By the end I had it pretty much worked out but I was only half right! All in all an extremely enjoyable look back in time to find the reasons for murder or violence are not much changed. I will certainly be reading more of the author's works.
I've noticed a particular trait of these novels is a strong female protagonist, something which was apparently taboo of that era. I get the impression women were to be seen and not heard, that expressing an opinion was something not to worry their pretty little heads about.
The novel was extremely well written with characters that were warm and full of depth, even the not so nice characters, so that you couldn't help but be invested. Yes, there was a tad of romance in the story, but it was a genteel one so I was able to stomach it. (Yeah, yeah ..... I know. A female that HATES Romance novels??)
There were red herrings abound and I found myself constantly changing my mind as to who the perpetrator was. By the end I had it pretty much worked out but I was only half right! All in all an extremely enjoyable look back in time to find the reasons for murder or violence are not much changed. I will certainly be reading more of the author's works.
September 27, 2012
I liked the character that the protagonist was trying to be; independent, smart, strong willed. But over the course of the book she seemed to take a dive into the ditzy schoolgirl category and it became more and more annoying to watch her stumble through nothing day in and day out. I thought the "romance" aspects were a bit contrived though I liked the characterization of the male lead and I was hoping to see the protagonist relationship expanded a bit more before the end. Overall, nothing really happens for the majority of the book but the places where things did happen were entertaining enough to keep reading.
August 1, 2020
A quick easy historical mystery with a delightful heroine who has pulled herself up from a bankrupt widow to a woman of independent means by owning a boarding house and playing the part of Lady Sibyl, a fortune teller. They murder mystery itself was pretty straight forward in spite of a few twists that tried to throw a reader off the track.
May 7, 2015
Annie Fuller is an independent widow running a boarding house while dispensing advice from the parlor disguised as clairvoyant 'Madame Sybil'. Shocked by the apparent suicide of one of 'Sybil's' favorite clients, Annie is determined to prove Matthew Voss's death was not suicide but murder.
Annie knows the police officer first on the scene and is able to learn details about the crime from him. Voss's attorney, Nathaniel Dawson does some investigation of his own and discovers Voss's connection to 'Madame Sybil'. After a few initial misunderstandings, Annie and Dawson work together to discover the identity and motive of the murderer.
I enjoyed this mystery set in San Francisco in 1879. I liked the way the author slowly revealed the personal histories of the characters, giving insight to their motivations and opinions. I appreciated the descriptive details regarding the setting, the history of the location, including racial biases, as well as the character's manner of dress. I thought the relationships were, for the most part, realistic, as was the dialogue. The mystery kept my interest and the romantic feelings beginning to develop between Annie and Nathaniel gave the story added interest.
Annie Fuller is a strong female character and though her behavior was sometimes anachronistic, I enjoyed reading along all the same. There were very few times when I didn't care for what the author had done. I thought one character was too helpful, another a little melodramatic, and one time I thought the dialog was a bit quaint and unrealistic. But overall I thought this was a well done mystery, with charming characters that I will be interested in reading about again.
Annie knows the police officer first on the scene and is able to learn details about the crime from him. Voss's attorney, Nathaniel Dawson does some investigation of his own and discovers Voss's connection to 'Madame Sybil'. After a few initial misunderstandings, Annie and Dawson work together to discover the identity and motive of the murderer.
I enjoyed this mystery set in San Francisco in 1879. I liked the way the author slowly revealed the personal histories of the characters, giving insight to their motivations and opinions. I appreciated the descriptive details regarding the setting, the history of the location, including racial biases, as well as the character's manner of dress. I thought the relationships were, for the most part, realistic, as was the dialogue. The mystery kept my interest and the romantic feelings beginning to develop between Annie and Nathaniel gave the story added interest.
Annie Fuller is a strong female character and though her behavior was sometimes anachronistic, I enjoyed reading along all the same. There were very few times when I didn't care for what the author had done. I thought one character was too helpful, another a little melodramatic, and one time I thought the dialog was a bit quaint and unrealistic. But overall I thought this was a well done mystery, with charming characters that I will be interested in reading about again.
May 31, 2022
5 stars - English ebook
Annie runs a boarding house after her husband’s crippling debts & suicide. She supplements her income by pretending to be a clairvoyant, Sybil, offering business & personal advice to her clients, who think she can tell their fortunes by reading their palms & birth charts. In reality, she is reads the daily papers for news on stocks, shares & businesses, & is very adept at body language & facial features.
Nate, a young & handsome lawyer, turns up at the boarding house looking for Sybil. He informs Annie/ Sybil her favourite client, Matthew Voss, was found dead - suicide. His uncle’s firm is the Voss family lawyer. He suspects Matthew Voss & Sybil were having an affair as Matthew had left his family quite destitute. However, she tells him that their relationship was more a friendship & she was his business advisor. Matthew’s shares were doing well so she suspects murder.
Annie decides to go undercover in the Voss family home by pretending to be a servant girl, Lizzie. She wants proof that Matthew was murdered, possibly by someone there...
I found the beginning of this book to be a little slow, but I’m glad I persevered as I did enjoy it. I liked the gentle romance between Nate & Annie. I did figure out who the murderer was. Thanks to Amazon & the author for making this (& several other books in this series) for free, although I would have paid for them.
Annie runs a boarding house after her husband’s crippling debts & suicide. She supplements her income by pretending to be a clairvoyant, Sybil, offering business & personal advice to her clients, who think she can tell their fortunes by reading their palms & birth charts. In reality, she is reads the daily papers for news on stocks, shares & businesses, & is very adept at body language & facial features.
Nate, a young & handsome lawyer, turns up at the boarding house looking for Sybil. He informs Annie/ Sybil her favourite client, Matthew Voss, was found dead - suicide. His uncle’s firm is the Voss family lawyer. He suspects Matthew Voss & Sybil were having an affair as Matthew had left his family quite destitute. However, she tells him that their relationship was more a friendship & she was his business advisor. Matthew’s shares were doing well so she suspects murder.
Annie decides to go undercover in the Voss family home by pretending to be a servant girl, Lizzie. She wants proof that Matthew was murdered, possibly by someone there...
I found the beginning of this book to be a little slow, but I’m glad I persevered as I did enjoy it. I liked the gentle romance between Nate & Annie. I did figure out who the murderer was. Thanks to Amazon & the author for making this (& several other books in this series) for free, although I would have paid for them.
January 19, 2016
I loved getting to know Annie Fuller. She was a widow in 1879 San Francisco that owned a boarding house. She also moonlighted as a clairvoyant to pay her bills. Annie had a clear mmd concerning finances and while playing clairvoyant advisor she became friends and financial advisor to Matthew Voss.
After the murder of Voss Annie felt she had to try to prove that his death was not a suicide. She meets young attorney Nathaniel Dawson and working together they try to figure out what exactly happened to her friend.
It is a very interesting and detailed story showing life in the 1870's. The author M. Louisa Locke brings the feelings of the times to life and you experienced what it was like to be a woman in that time. A wonderful series.
After the murder of Voss Annie felt she had to try to prove that his death was not a suicide. She meets young attorney Nathaniel Dawson and working together they try to figure out what exactly happened to her friend.
It is a very interesting and detailed story showing life in the 1870's. The author M. Louisa Locke brings the feelings of the times to life and you experienced what it was like to be a woman in that time. A wonderful series.
August 5, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
August 14, 2020
The first of a historical mystery series, Maids of Misfortune (2009) is set in Victorian San Francisco. It features Annie Fuller, a young widow, whose husband had squandered off all their fortune (before committing suicide), and who is managing to make ends meet by running a boarding house in a property her aunt left her. Alongside she also makes some additional money as a clairvoyant, Sybil, advising people on personal and business matters (her father worked with stocks and she is fairly good at it, but being a woman in that time period, finds it impossible to find formal employment). When one of her clients Matthew Voss is found dead, suspected to have committed suicide, Annie at once knows that this couldn’t have been the case for he was doing very well at her advice. She tries to convince one of his lawyers Nate Dawson of this when he comes inquiring, for she has been left a bequest. She also finds that all the assets she knew he had have gone missing. Matthew being her friend, she wishes to clear his name and at the same time, some troubles of her own mean that she might actually need that bequest. Annie decides to look into the matter herself for it was her who advised Mathew as to the investments. So she goes undercover as a maid in the Voss household. There she finds that there are tensions aplenty—for Matthew didn’t get along with his son, Jeremy an artist who he felt should take more of an interest in business, and his sister Nancy seemed to have borne a strong grudge as well against him as well. As she continues to look into the matter (not revealing to Nate that she is in disguise), another death occurs which she in a way blames herself for and is thus more keen to investigate. With Nate (and the police) also looking into the matter alongside, Annie tries to find the murderer and the missing assets.
This is a historical mystery which I enjoy reading usually, and being in a setting—San Francisco in Victorian times—which I knew little about, I was all the more interested in picking this up. The author is a historian, and so alongside the mystery aspect she also brings in other issues of the day. In this book, we see of course the general plight of women at the time, having to live and work within a social scenario where they could only do certain things while others even if they were good at and had knowledge of (like Annie with stocks) couldn’t be pursued, unless they come up with a roundabout way (like she does). The book also brings up the issue of hardships faced by people in domestic service—both the kind of work they had to often do (literally backbreaking as Annie realises when she works)—and the treatment they faced in general, the rich at times treating them as they pleased (with no consequences for themselves). Through another person in service at the Voss’, Wong who is Chinese, the author also highlights the kind of discrimination the community faced in San Francisco at the time, and how they might have had to accept and live with injustice, and even violence.
The mystery itself is not overly complicated—there are a few suspects, most (though not all) from within the Voss family, and while some of them may seem capable and to have had reason enough to do it, Annie finds it hard to identify who actually might have. Alongside, there are also the servants who might have been involved, but there doesn’t seem strong enough reason. This wasn’t the kind of mystery where one can pick up clues and put them together; rather one where we investigate alongside Annie and Nate, going with them to the places they go, observing and conversing with those they do, leading ultimately to the answer. There is a touch of drama at the end with a literal fight against the culprit, bringing in a bit of excitement. And the beginnings of a romance, between Nate and Annie.
I enjoyed this mystery, especially for its setting and historical elements. I also liked the main characters and look forward to seeing how their stories develop, alongside what mystery they find themselves a part of next!
This is a historical mystery which I enjoy reading usually, and being in a setting—San Francisco in Victorian times—which I knew little about, I was all the more interested in picking this up. The author is a historian, and so alongside the mystery aspect she also brings in other issues of the day. In this book, we see of course the general plight of women at the time, having to live and work within a social scenario where they could only do certain things while others even if they were good at and had knowledge of (like Annie with stocks) couldn’t be pursued, unless they come up with a roundabout way (like she does). The book also brings up the issue of hardships faced by people in domestic service—both the kind of work they had to often do (literally backbreaking as Annie realises when she works)—and the treatment they faced in general, the rich at times treating them as they pleased (with no consequences for themselves). Through another person in service at the Voss’, Wong who is Chinese, the author also highlights the kind of discrimination the community faced in San Francisco at the time, and how they might have had to accept and live with injustice, and even violence.
The mystery itself is not overly complicated—there are a few suspects, most (though not all) from within the Voss family, and while some of them may seem capable and to have had reason enough to do it, Annie finds it hard to identify who actually might have. Alongside, there are also the servants who might have been involved, but there doesn’t seem strong enough reason. This wasn’t the kind of mystery where one can pick up clues and put them together; rather one where we investigate alongside Annie and Nate, going with them to the places they go, observing and conversing with those they do, leading ultimately to the answer. There is a touch of drama at the end with a literal fight against the culprit, bringing in a bit of excitement. And the beginnings of a romance, between Nate and Annie.
I enjoyed this mystery, especially for its setting and historical elements. I also liked the main characters and look forward to seeing how their stories develop, alongside what mystery they find themselves a part of next!
February 27, 2019
I love pleasant surprises when reading a free book. This was an enjoyable, well-written mystery that kept me on my toes (though I did have my suspicions) with a stubborn and strong-willed heroine as well as an otherwise diverse cast.
March 21, 2011
Locke mines the complexity of the Victorian Era in Maids of Misfortune, adroitly shedding light in shadowy corners of a time now as subject to stereotype as Regency England. But Annie Fuller is no stereotype. Widowed when her husband committed suicide, Annie has fled his abusive family to establish a rooming house in a San Francisco property left her by an aunt. To supplement the meager income generated by this endeavor, Annie operates an intriguing business on the side – as a clairvoyant!
While young ladies of the Victorian elite busied themselves with needlepoint and the finer points of supervising large households, Annie learned from her father about the world of commerce. She can read the business pages and knows what influence a mining disaster in Columbia may have on American iron production. In an exotic disguise as “Madame Sybil”, she dispenses shrewd business advice for which she is handsomely paid. Annie is smart.
But then one of her dead husband’s creditors turns up, determined to wrest from her the property she inherited from her aunt. His success will leave Annie penniless and desperate in an era that has no sympathy for independent women and offers such creatures no recourse but the street. To make matters worse, a client of “Madame Sybil” suddenly dies, an apparent suicide, leaving his family in dire financial distress. Annie is sympathetic. And she doesn’t believe her client killed himself.
Determined to discover the truth and rescue the man’s family, Annie goes undercover as a maid in his home, reluctantly abetted by Nate Dawson, the dead client’s attorney. Nate is a man of his time and doesn’t know what to make of Annie, whose spirit and savvy both shock and attract him. And while romance is the last thing on Annie’s mind, she finds herself succumbing to Nate’s rather macho charm. When he rescues her from a predatory creep at a dance, she really doesn’t mind. At all!
The well-plotted tale winds deftly through a half-forgotten time and numerous still-extant San Francisco landmarks readers will recognize. Suspenseful mystery dangers and unexpected twists are presented with a sure hand, establishing Annie as a heroine to befriend.
I can’t wait for the next one.
While young ladies of the Victorian elite busied themselves with needlepoint and the finer points of supervising large households, Annie learned from her father about the world of commerce. She can read the business pages and knows what influence a mining disaster in Columbia may have on American iron production. In an exotic disguise as “Madame Sybil”, she dispenses shrewd business advice for which she is handsomely paid. Annie is smart.
But then one of her dead husband’s creditors turns up, determined to wrest from her the property she inherited from her aunt. His success will leave Annie penniless and desperate in an era that has no sympathy for independent women and offers such creatures no recourse but the street. To make matters worse, a client of “Madame Sybil” suddenly dies, an apparent suicide, leaving his family in dire financial distress. Annie is sympathetic. And she doesn’t believe her client killed himself.
Determined to discover the truth and rescue the man’s family, Annie goes undercover as a maid in his home, reluctantly abetted by Nate Dawson, the dead client’s attorney. Nate is a man of his time and doesn’t know what to make of Annie, whose spirit and savvy both shock and attract him. And while romance is the last thing on Annie’s mind, she finds herself succumbing to Nate’s rather macho charm. When he rescues her from a predatory creep at a dance, she really doesn’t mind. At all!
The well-plotted tale winds deftly through a half-forgotten time and numerous still-extant San Francisco landmarks readers will recognize. Suspenseful mystery dangers and unexpected twists are presented with a sure hand, establishing Annie as a heroine to befriend.
I can’t wait for the next one.
May 30, 2011
I found this book free for my Kindle on Amazon. It intrigued me because it is written by a retired history professor and takes place in Victorian-era San Francisco, both an historical era and a city of which I am fond.
I found this novel light but enjoyable, with a fiesty and intelligent heroine who is contastantly at battle with the social mores of the period. A young widow and boardinghouse owner, Annie Fuller moonlights as a clairvoyant, giving personal and financial advice based on sound research and common sense, rather than actual supernatural abilities. She also, as it happens, solves mysteries!
Bottom line, I think I may be hooked and will be looking for the second installment in this series.
I found this novel light but enjoyable, with a fiesty and intelligent heroine who is contastantly at battle with the social mores of the period. A young widow and boardinghouse owner, Annie Fuller moonlights as a clairvoyant, giving personal and financial advice based on sound research and common sense, rather than actual supernatural abilities. She also, as it happens, solves mysteries!
Bottom line, I think I may be hooked and will be looking for the second installment in this series.
November 29, 2016
Very good mystery! Reading this, I realized how hard the life of my grandmother had been, when she was in service. This truly is a tribute to all maids (-servants)!
May 23, 2019
Maids of Misfortune is the first in a series of 6 mysteries that take place in the 1800's. They're great stories with great characters and I love the time period they take place within. A woman portraying herself as a clairvoyant finds herself mixed up in a murder mystery and tries to solve it with the help of the victims lawyer. All kinds of action and even some romance ensues throughout the book. These kinds of books are my go to books for when I've read a few really deep or long books and want a quick, unputdownable book. I found these mysteries and love them, so now it's off to book 2. I recommend this series to any historical fiction fan who likes mysteries and who wants a quick read that is entertaining and very enjoyable.
May 4, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I was a little ‘put off’ by the voices the reader gave to different characters (other than the main character.) However, this will not stop me from listening to the rest of the series. I’m looking forward to it!
January 9, 2021
This was a free ebook from The Fussy Librarian
I thoughly enjoyed this historical mystery set in Victorian San Francisco.
It starts with the murder of one of Annie's clients and she goes undercover in the dead man's house, working as a house maid in order to solve the case. She does this with the help of her clients lawyer.
I found the book enjoyable, a cozy mystery by an author I've never tried before. This was book one in the series and I'll definitely be reading the other books in the series.
I thoughly enjoyed this historical mystery set in Victorian San Francisco.
It starts with the murder of one of Annie's clients and she goes undercover in the dead man's house, working as a house maid in order to solve the case. She does this with the help of her clients lawyer.
I found the book enjoyable, a cozy mystery by an author I've never tried before. This was book one in the series and I'll definitely be reading the other books in the series.
May 3, 2020
Overall, I liked this book though I thought it a bit long-winded. I would have rated the book higher except for one thing: the premise for the storyline doesn't exist!
Annie Fuller is a widow running a boarding house in Victorian San Francisco. Her late husband died leaving her with nothing but debts, one of them from a man who is coming to collect ten years later. To supplement her income, Annie poses as a clairvoyant. One of her clients has died, leaving her a small bequest just large enough to pay off her husband's old debt. To her dismay, the man's assets cannot be located and it now looks like murder.
To help locate the assets and save her home, Annie goes in disguise to work as a domestic in the household. With the assistance of one of the decedent's attorneys, the murderer is discovered and the assets recovered. BUT, in the final scenes when the debtor comes to collect, Annie makes a big show of advising him that her family assisted her by advertising for debtors so they could be paid pennies on the dollar. The debtor admits he saw the ad, but dismissed as he did not want his debt discounted and Annie tells him that it is unfortunate because he now he has no legal recourse.
So, if Annie knew this all along, why go undercover? The only plausible reason is to prove her friend did not commit suicide and not to uncover assets to save her home as stated in the book!
Annie Fuller is a widow running a boarding house in Victorian San Francisco. Her late husband died leaving her with nothing but debts, one of them from a man who is coming to collect ten years later. To supplement her income, Annie poses as a clairvoyant. One of her clients has died, leaving her a small bequest just large enough to pay off her husband's old debt. To her dismay, the man's assets cannot be located and it now looks like murder.
To help locate the assets and save her home, Annie goes in disguise to work as a domestic in the household. With the assistance of one of the decedent's attorneys, the murderer is discovered and the assets recovered. BUT, in the final scenes when the debtor comes to collect, Annie makes a big show of advising him that her family assisted her by advertising for debtors so they could be paid pennies on the dollar. The debtor admits he saw the ad, but dismissed as he did not want his debt discounted and Annie tells him that it is unfortunate because he now he has no legal recourse.
So, if Annie knew this all along, why go undercover? The only plausible reason is to prove her friend did not commit suicide and not to uncover assets to save her home as stated in the book!
January 31, 2012
I got this as a free book off of Amazon's free book list. It took me a while to get into it, but that was probably due to the fact that I was only able to read it in fits and starts till about the middle of the book. At that point I was able to read it in much longer stretches. The main character managed to be a bit of a more modern heroine without being too out of the norm for the late 1800's I thought. The take down of the villain was humorous and I laughed out loud at several points.
When I got to the end, after reading a teaser of several pages of the next book, Amazon helpfully brought up their store where I saw the next book was only $2.99. They're making it too easy, I bought the book and I'm going to have to watch myself to make sure I don't get too big of a bill at the end of each month. =P
When I got to the end, after reading a teaser of several pages of the next book, Amazon helpfully brought up their store where I saw the next book was only $2.99. They're making it too easy, I bought the book and I'm going to have to watch myself to make sure I don't get too big of a bill at the end of each month. =P
June 15, 2012
As a gently-bred widow in nineteenth century San Francisco, Annie Fuller struggles to be financially independent. To supplement her boarding house earnings, she also gives advice masquerading as a fortune teller. When one of her favorite clients seemingly commits suicide on the eve of his greatest triumph, only Annie is suspicious. The police won't listen to her theories, so she goes undercover as a maid in home of her late client. The family he left behind is in desperate straits, and Annie does her best to solve a murder, help each of them, and still somehow wash the linens and make the fires. She finds being a maid to be astoundingly hard work, and sleuthing not much easier. Luckily she has a handsome detective to help her...
Short, sweet, not that objectionable and not that memorable, either.
Short, sweet, not that objectionable and not that memorable, either.
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