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1920s Mystery #3
Murder in Cucumber Alley: a 1920s Mystery
It is February 1927 and Schenectady, New York, proud home of General Electric is booming with prosperity. Rodney Longworth, handsome and debonair assistant manager at the elegant Hotel Van Curler, experiences firsthand the explosion of violence when two women are brutally murdered in Cucumber Alley, not far from the home he shares with his parents in the historic stockade district.
Soon yet another victim is found. It seems no one is safe. As his suspicions and apprehension grow, Rodney elicits the assistance of Sloane Sheppard, a private investigator. Long held secrets, surprising family revelations, open hostilities and another murder attempt confound Sloane as he races against time to resolve the crisis occurring in the otherwise placid neighborhood.
Amidst a backdrop of flappers, speakeasies, jazz music, beguiling scientists and the newfound expedient of television, Murder in Cucumber Alley continues to a shocking denouement when Sloane Sheppard unmasks the culprit behind the horrendous murders in Cucumber Alley.
Soon yet another victim is found. It seems no one is safe. As his suspicions and apprehension grow, Rodney elicits the assistance of Sloane Sheppard, a private investigator. Long held secrets, surprising family revelations, open hostilities and another murder attempt confound Sloane as he races against time to resolve the crisis occurring in the otherwise placid neighborhood.
Amidst a backdrop of flappers, speakeasies, jazz music, beguiling scientists and the newfound expedient of television, Murder in Cucumber Alley continues to a shocking denouement when Sloane Sheppard unmasks the culprit behind the horrendous murders in Cucumber Alley.
306 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 10, 2023
It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a mystery as much as this one. The historical background of Schenectady, NY in 1927 was fascinating. The suspense was so effective that I wanted to keep reading and not put it down. I thought the characters were cleverly drawn and believable. This is a tense and compelling story. Highly recommended.
January 30, 2023
Love this book, the author keeps creating interesting, enticing, wonderful stories I love to read. Hope others read this delightful book.
Marcia Rosen
Marcia Rosen
November 9, 2023
I hope you enjoy this 1920s mystery set in Schenectady, NY during the jazz age. I had a lot of fun researching Schenectady during that time and learned how television was in its infancy and got its start in Schenectady!
March 12, 2025
As a writer and historian, I was very pleased to come across the novels of Michael Sinclair. He writes competently about the 1920s, an era of much interest to me.
I have finished the first three novels in the series, and I must say I have been impressed. I found the plot devices successful. The characters moved gracefully throughout the novels, providing a rich, atmospheric feel of the 1920s. The author knows his territory and his research shows. He painstakingly reproduces what life was like in 1920s Albany, New York down to the smallest detail. When you read the books, you feel as though you are actually immersed in that time era, the descriptions are so authentic and real.
The syntax and formatting of the books was also highly pleasing. I found his style rich in vocabulary and his descriptions of even mundane things authentic. He used the words he felt were best for his own distinct style, which made his writing that much more unique and interesting.
I especially enjoyed the characters in The Consequences of Murder. The ending scene, where after the dust had settled, the characters are enjoying drinks, their time together, their new family reunited, singing along to Christmas carols was touching. From my own research, many families were torn apart during World War 1 and the Flu Pandemic of 1918. It was not uncommon for families to leave their children with others during this time. The author brilliantly handles the plot involving different identities, creating a tense yet totally believable situation.
The author’s third novel Murder in Cucumber Alley is even more impressive. I was not aware that television had its start in Schenectady, New York. Clearly, the author must have conducted thorough research to accurately portray Schenectady; the everyday life of the characters, the enormous General Electric plant and the trolley system are wonderfully portrayed.
The dialog of the characters, their interactions and the plot resolutions at the end are totally satisfying. Michael Sinclair plays out his stories like the pro that he is. His novels are historically accurate and entertaining. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future
I have finished the first three novels in the series, and I must say I have been impressed. I found the plot devices successful. The characters moved gracefully throughout the novels, providing a rich, atmospheric feel of the 1920s. The author knows his territory and his research shows. He painstakingly reproduces what life was like in 1920s Albany, New York down to the smallest detail. When you read the books, you feel as though you are actually immersed in that time era, the descriptions are so authentic and real.
The syntax and formatting of the books was also highly pleasing. I found his style rich in vocabulary and his descriptions of even mundane things authentic. He used the words he felt were best for his own distinct style, which made his writing that much more unique and interesting.
I especially enjoyed the characters in The Consequences of Murder. The ending scene, where after the dust had settled, the characters are enjoying drinks, their time together, their new family reunited, singing along to Christmas carols was touching. From my own research, many families were torn apart during World War 1 and the Flu Pandemic of 1918. It was not uncommon for families to leave their children with others during this time. The author brilliantly handles the plot involving different identities, creating a tense yet totally believable situation.
The author’s third novel Murder in Cucumber Alley is even more impressive. I was not aware that television had its start in Schenectady, New York. Clearly, the author must have conducted thorough research to accurately portray Schenectady; the everyday life of the characters, the enormous General Electric plant and the trolley system are wonderfully portrayed.
The dialog of the characters, their interactions and the plot resolutions at the end are totally satisfying. Michael Sinclair plays out his stories like the pro that he is. His novels are historically accurate and entertaining. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future
October 17, 2025
Michael Sinclair treats us to another marvelous story--the third in this series--set in the upstate New York of the 1920s. We are introduced to Schenectady--a thriving city with richly described neighborhoods, landmarks, people, and traditions as well as home to General Electric. A number of well-established families, who are socially and professionally interconnected, live in the charming historic area of town. Nearby to their homes, however, is the desolate Cucumber Alley, the scene of three murders and one assault, deeply shaking the lives of these families, especially that of young Rodney Longworth. Driven to find answers, he hires private investigator Sloane Shepherd to delve into the matter. Soon, it becomes clear that there is more behind these crimes than just random acts of violence. Old secrets are revealed that threaten to touch many lives--all leading to a staggering conclusion. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with many twists and turns, evoking a wonderful sense of the era. Highly recommended.
February 9, 2025
Schenectady, New York is the setting for this intriguing mystery. The plot line revolved around Theresa, a young woman who seemed to have many secrets, to say the least!
The point of view is told by Rodney, and I really liked this character. He was resourceful, intelligent and committed to his parents, something that was so real in the 1920s. In a tight-knit community like Schenectady in 1928, families worked together and supported each other and that clearly comes across in this absorbing novel.
The ending really took me by surprise! I like unexpected endings and the buildup and the investigations by Sloan Sheppard, the private detective, were impressive to me. The writing was flawless and intelligent. The author knows his terrain and it shows.
I highly recommend this book. Another good one in this series.
The point of view is told by Rodney, and I really liked this character. He was resourceful, intelligent and committed to his parents, something that was so real in the 1920s. In a tight-knit community like Schenectady in 1928, families worked together and supported each other and that clearly comes across in this absorbing novel.
The ending really took me by surprise! I like unexpected endings and the buildup and the investigations by Sloan Sheppard, the private detective, were impressive to me. The writing was flawless and intelligent. The author knows his terrain and it shows.
I highly recommend this book. Another good one in this series.
February 8, 2023
I saw this in the library and thought it looked interesting, especially since I lived in Schenectady for several years. I didn't realize it was self-published (Google "Wordzworth Publishing").
The language was clunky and repetitive. We don't need to hear the characters' names repeated three times in the same paragraph.
The mystery wasn't written in a way that held my interest. In a large city with a college and a huge factory there wasn't a reason why the same characters would be the focus of the story.
The language was clunky and repetitive. We don't need to hear the characters' names repeated three times in the same paragraph.
The mystery wasn't written in a way that held my interest. In a large city with a college and a huge factory there wasn't a reason why the same characters would be the focus of the story.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews