Death of Riley (Molly Murphy Series #2) by Rhys Bowen

From the Publisher

Rhys Bowen, author of the Agatha Award winning mystery Murphy's Law, returns to old New York with a new novel featuring spirited Irishwoman Molly Murphy...

Death of Riley
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. Unsure whether the culprit is connected to the crooked police force or a shady client, Molly keeps her sleuthing from Daniel Sullivan, the handsome policeman who has stolen her heart. Using only her wits and her newfound talents to ferret out the truth, Molly confronts her darkest fears in search of a murderer intent on stopping her investigation...by seeing her dead.

Library Journal

In this second series title (after Murphy's Law), Irish immigrant Molly becomes an apprentice P.I. Unfortunately, she's soon investigating the murder of her boss-with a little help from a likable police detective. An authentic historical about New York in the early 1900s. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A second sabbatical from her Welsh policeman hero Evan Evans (Evans to Betsy, 2001, etc.) takes Bowen back to the summer of 1901 for a second chapter in the life of Molly Murphy (Murphy's Law, 2001). Months after arriving from Ireland to New York, Molly still hasn't found a suitable job until she takes the suggestion of police captain Daniel Sullivan, her friend and, she hopes, more, and becomes companion to cranky old Miss Van Woekem. But when a chance encounter brings to Molly's attention Miss Van Woekem's niece Arabella-and the unhappy news that she's engaged to Daniel-Molly loses no time in quitting the job. Determined to become an investigator, she seeks out private detective Paddy Riley, persuading him to hire her, if only to keep his office clean. It takes only a few short days, however, for her ship to come in. One morning she arrives at the office to find Riley dying and herself sharing space with the killer, who slams her to the floor and makes his escape. All Molly's energies are now devoted to finding the assassin, starting with clues from Riley's correspondence, notebooks, and camera and ending, of course, with timely assistance from Daniel. Molly is a bit too clever and reckless to be totally convincing, but Bowen's highly detailed picture of New York at the turn of the century is a delight.

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