Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

P.B. Ryan is our featured author for September.

P.B. Ryan also writes as Patricia Ryan

Author website: http://www.pb-ryan.com

Feel free to make book suggestions in this thread.

Come and tell us which book you picked and once you've read it let us know what you thought of it (is it a new to you author, would you read her work again, etc.)

The first of Gilded Age series Still Life With Murder was already on my TBR list so I gravitated to that one. I have access to two large library systems and the only copy either had (paper, audio or digital) was missing! Sigh. (And I live in Boston where the series is set.) So I checked Amazon and it is free on kindle - they often do that with the first in a series. So I'm ready for September.

That one's been on my TBR shelf for a long time too.

I added when someone in this group recommended it. So I'm going to read it as well.

Thanks, Sandy for the heads up on it being free for Kindle - perfect timing!

For anyone who want the link to Amazon, Here it is

Thanks! I got the freebie, so I'm all set for September. :)

I've read Still Life With Murder and really enjoyed it. I've bought the second in the series because I sense the characters will develop more with each book. My mother-in-law read the whole series and loved it.

Still Life with Murder has been on my TBR forever...I'll finally get around to it!

One of my favorite periods...I'm in for September!

I read the whole Nell Sweeney series when it came out. I really enjoyed them. I was sorry the series ended. But it's always nice to have a reason to go back for a re-read.

Yay, I purchased this one back in 2012 on kindle so I can finally have a reason to read it.

The first book is also free on Barnes and Noble. I ended up binge reading all six books last week! They were very enjoyable (though I'll admit to rating them between 3-4 stars). My only complaint is that they were too short, just over 150 pages per book.

Tabby wrote: "My only complaint is that they were too short, just over 150 pages per book. "

That's strange. The page numbers here on Goodreads and Amazon are between 320 for the first book and 276 for the 2nd.

Lauren wrote: "Tabby wrote: "My only complaint is that they were too short, just over 150 pages per book. "

That's strange. The page numbers here on Goodreads and Amazon are between 320 for the first book and 27..."

You're right. It's at book 3 the books start getting short, from less than 200 pages to 140 for book 6.

Tabby wrote: "You're right. It's at book 3 the books start getting short, from less than 200 pages to 140 for book 6. "

I guess she had less of a story to tell...

Lauren wrote: "Tabby wrote: "You're right. It's at book 3 the books start getting short, from less than 200 pages to 140 for book 6. "

I guess she had less of a story to tell..."

I wish she had more! I was swept up reading them! I hope she writes another historical mystery series, as I'm not too interested in reading her romance series.

Has anyone read the romance series? I didn't know she had one!

Michelle wrote: "Has anyone read the romance series? I didn't know she had one!"

She writes under Patricia Ryan for her romance novels. According to her website, though historical fiction is where her interests lie, writing romance novels pays the bills.

Ha! Thanks, Tabby!

I finished Still Life With Murder tonight and rate it 3.5 stars. I liked it but not my favourite historical mystery series. I will probably continue the series but not in a rush to.

The opening of Still Life With Murder did two things I particularly like in a book, particularly when it's setting up a series. First, it plunged us into action. Even though the action was rather tangentially connected to the actual mystery, it provided a smooth transition.

Second, the opening chapters delivered plenty of backstory -- and a pinch of mystery about something in Nell's past -- without bringing the narrative to a stop in order to do so.

Throughout the book, author Ryan did a splendid job of less-is-more when setting up the romantic thread. This underwriting made the moments of attraction all the more powerful. The characters came across as intelligent adults.

I like Ryan's "other" novels, especially her medieval ones. Her novel Silken Threads is a 14th (?) century version of the movie Rear Window. It has a happy ending even though there is some pain involved getting there. The second one of the series is a take on "Notorious", the 1940's Hitchcock classic with a woman acting as a double agent while falling in love with her handler. I enjoyed these stories.

Started Still Life With Murder last night.

It's pretty good. I like Nell's character. She is a very practical sort and there are just enough hints about her past to make her very intriguing.

The mystery is a bit obvious though. I have a suspect in mind already (on chapter 6) and it will be interesting to see if I'm right.

William is an ambiguous character - he's obviously been traumatized by his experiences during the war, but he was also a "problem child" so to speak before then. I wonder if (view spoiler)[the reason August doesn't care if he hangs, is because William is not his biological child. This would explain Viola's comments about lonely wives after Grace's birth (hide spoiler)]. I also think that William is (view spoiler)[Grace's father (hide spoiler)]

I finished and enjoyed it very much although the mystery was predictable.

I will continue with the series.

Lauren wrote: "I finished and enjoyed it very much although the mystery was predictable.

I will continue with the series."

(view spoiler)[your previous post did make me laugh - how accurate were you in your deductions! You should be a Detective!! (hide spoiler)]

Tracey wrote: "Lauren wrote: "I finished and enjoyed it very much although the mystery was predictable.

I will continue with the series."

[spoilers removed]"

Lol! Yes, they were pretty accurate and my guess as to the culprit was also spot on. I hope that the next book isn't as obvious. I like it when a book surprised me.

I read the book a couple of years ago and at some later point downloaded the second. To date, I haven't read it. Like Lauren and Tracey, I enjoyed it, but equally as well written and more to my taste.

Enjoyable and light -I'm more interested in the characters than the mystery - though I had the wrong culprit. I'll continue with the series to learn her history and his future. While I loved the Irish detective I felt his tolerance of Nell's 'help' was not realistic.

@Sandy - I agree. The characters are more interesting than the mystery.
The detective was way too tolerant and the fact that he allowed Nell to tag along to crime scenes and interviews was not believable at all!
By the way, who did you suspect?

Lauren wrote: "@Sandy - I agree. The characters are more interesting than the mystery.
The detective was way too tolerant and the fact that he allowed Nell to tag along to crime scenes and interviews was not beli..."

The wild brother - but I suppose we'll need him around for future ne'er-do-well activities.

I've just started but am only about 50 pages in. So far, so good.

Sandy wrote: "The wild brother - but I suppose we'll need him around for future ne'er-do-well activities. "

Ah, he was a good suspect :0)

Meghan wrote: "I've just started but am only about 50 pages in. So far, so good."

Hope you enjoy it, Meghan!

I discovered these books last year, and devoured them - I loved the main characters, and thought the writing was outstanding. I only wish this was one of those series that would keep going indefinitely.

Tracey wrote: "I discovered these books last year, and devoured them - I loved the main characters, and thought the writing was outstanding. I only wish this was one of those series that would keep going indefini..."

Good to know there are good books ahead :0)

I'm not sure if Ryan is planning on continuing the series though...

I FINALLY got around to finishing . I really liked it and am definitely planning on continuing the series.

Meghan wrote: "I FINALLY got around to finishing . I really liked it and am definitely planning on continuing the series."

Glad you enjoyed it, Meghan

Finished - there was a moment when I almost gave up on this book because it has a trope that I dislike. Nevertheless, I managed to get past it and am glad I did because it ended up being a very good read. Looking forward to continuing with the series.

Murder in a Mill Town has been on my TBR since our group read of the first book - thanks for the reminder and for the warning to push thru to the end. And I need that series for my "Gilded Age" category in our 2016 challenge.