Search - Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2)

The Molly Murphy series are an intersting trip through old New York, plus great mysteries!

Second in the Molly Murphy series - an a nostolgic trip through turn of the century immigrant life in New York City. "Molly Murphy can't seem to fit in anywhere. Not with the new immigrants pouring in from the Old World and certainly not with the society folks she envies from afar. After bungling a job as a lady's companion, Molly decides to become an assistant to the notorious private investigator, Paddy Riley. Unfortunately Paddy's possible underworld dealings have left him deader than a doornail and Molly in possession of his detective agency. Using the tricks of the trade she learned from her employer, Molly sets out to find the wily killer responsible for the death of Riley."

A wonderful trip through turn of the century NYC as seen through the eyes of an immigrant Irish young woman. Molly has decided to try to earn a living by becoming a detective. She doesn't have the temperament to work at more female jobs such as ladies' companion or seamstress. So, she decides to apprentice herself to a detective who then gets himself killed. She decides to carry on in his name.

Molly Murphy helped discover the killer in Book #1. In this sequel, she decides to become an assistant private investigator in safe, non-criminal cases, like divorces or missing people. Or so she thinks. Before she knows it a murder occurs that has far reaching consequences, extending to the top levels of American government.

Of course, before all this she tries to be a 'lady's companion.' What she doesn't understand is that this position has a tie-in to her potential love life. A fact that she discovers to her dismay.

Then there are the new friends that she makes. While Molly is a free-spirited young lady, she is somewhat overwhelmed with the sex lives of her new friends. Molly doesn't partake of course, and what sex does exist is hidden behind closed doors and only referred to, as befits a cozy. Still, they are her friends, as she discovers when they save her life.

Molly's character continues to develop. And Rhys Bowen, instead of allowing her heroine to be perfect, allows Molly to make some really stupid mistakes and assumptions. In fact, one of Molly's mistakes might even make her somewhat responsible for the death of a top government official.

And Captain Sullivan pops in and out of this book, sometimes just in the nick of time, as he saves Molly's life again. A little too convenient to my taste, but hey, it's just a story.

Yet. I can't help feeling that this feisty, red-haired young woman would quickly obtain the placid life she seeks, if only she dyed her hair blond, black or brown.