Nicely done historical mystery featuring Jane, a lady's maid, working with Michael, a journalist to prove that her employer Charlotte is not responsible for the murder of her kind-of-a-rat fiancé Norrie on Christmas Eve. Whew. Fredericks has used 1910 New York and the machinations of new money to good effect. There are any number of people who have a grudge against Norris and his mine-owning family but who actually did it? There's some good twists but I liked this mostly for the characters and setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This isn't a cozy but it's got a darn good female amateur protagonist I hope to see again.

There's a romance to New York at the turn of the century. The rich were VERY rich and the poor were VERY poor. The city was just starting to grow and become a titan of trade and industry. Jane Prescott is a lady's maid to a new money New York family. Daughters Charlotte and Louise are on the hunt for husbands. Charlotte announces her engagement to the playboy Norrie Newsome - but just before midnight on Christmas Eve - Norris is found dead in the family library.

Jane teams up with the handsome reporter, Michael - and they search into the Benchley family and all their secrets.

I'm hoping this is just the beginning of a series because Jane is such a likeable storyteller.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book needs correction immediately. The pages repeat upon itself! It's too confusing to read. The publisher had done a disservice to this Author. I can't read the repetitive words over, and over.

Mariah Fredericks gives us a Death of No Importance in New York City of the Gilded Age. Charlotte Benchley is engaged to Norrie who is found murdered at a Fifth Avenue Christmas Eve event. Her maid investigates and does not think the anarchist who confessed is guilty. A very tangled and morally compromised tale with no happy ending in sight.

A solid first historical mystery from author Fredericks. Jane Prescott, maid to the Benchley family, is an intriguing addition to the historical mystery detective. As a native New Yorker, I enjoyed the backdrop of the tensions between the Gilded Age millionaires, and the nouveau riche. I especially liked the addition of the anarchist sub-plot, although I wish it had been better developed. For me, there was no surprise as to who the murderer or how it all played out. And I thought bringing in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a bit much. The author had already made her point about the working class versus the people who reaped all the benefit from their labor. What I enjoyed were the little details, although Jane seemed to have quite a bit of free time for a maid, particularly one in a house that was as chaotic as the Benchley's where servants seemed to barely last long enough to unpack their bags. While Jane and reporter Michael Behan are sharply drawn, the Benchley's are more opaque. I'm intrigued to see how the next book is going to play out. Will Jane move up in the Benchley household to housekeeper? Will she move on to another household?

Jane Prescott has decided to write about the events that happened on Christmas Eve 1910 now that all of the relevant players have passed away. Jane was a lady's maid who worked for a newly rich family in New York City. She was hired to guide the daughters - Charlotte and Louise - as they took part in the annual husband hunt. Charlotte was the younger sister but was the one who attracted the men. She was pretty, bubbly, and very socially ambitious. Louise was awkward and shy but had a developing social conscience.

Charlotte manipulates her way into becoming engaged to Norrie Newsome, scion of a high class New York family but not a nice person. Their engagement is to be announced at the Christmas Eve ball hosted by Norrie's father and his new step-mother Rose who was a student with Louise at a prestigious girls' school. However, before the engagement can be announced, Norrie is found murdered in the family library.

Jane begins her investigation when it looks like Charlotte might be accused of the murder. After all, Charlotte railroaded Norrie into the engagement. She cut out the young lady "everyone" knew was his intended fiance and who isn't going away gracefully. Also, the senior Newsome has run afoul of anarchists since he owns a mine where more than 100 miners included eight boy under the age of 10 died in an accident. The company didn't attempt to rescue the boys because they thought it would be too dangerous. He has been receiving threatening notes vowing revenge. Jane's best friend has ties to the anarchists and to newly forming unions and Jane fears that she was somehow involved.

Jane herself was abandoned by her father on arrival in New York from Scotland when she was a small child. She was raised by her uncle who was a minister who ran a home for fallen women. She feels loyalty to the people she works for and has a unique perspective because her position makes her almost invisible to her employers.

I liked the way the story illustrates a turbulent time in US history with the rich desperately holding on to their power as it is being eroded by the rising working class. I liked that Jane figured out who committed the murder and what she decided to do about it. I am really curious about Jane's life between the events of 1910 and the time she wrote her memoirs sometime around 1980. She has a very distinct voice and sensibility.

Set in 1910, a Death of No Importance, spins a tale of class, privilege, and the repercussions when there is such a great divide between those that have and those who do not.

I had no expectations when starting this book - the premise peaked my interest, but I didn't really know what direction the story would go in. Told from Jane Prescott's, lady's maid to the Benchley daughters, perspective we are able to see the many different points of view of who may have murdered NYC's premiere wealthy bachelor, Norrie Newsome Jr.

I really liked Jane and respected what she accomplished in her life despite such a difficult start when arriving to the US. Her even temperament, honesty, and ability to look at a situation without judging appealed to me. She displays compassion and advocates for the truth even when it may affect her situation in life - as evidence by her visit to Mr. Pawlicec.

I was appalled but not surprised by the lack of empathy and action displayed by Mr. Newsome in regards to the mining accident. How does one, who owns the mines/company, not be held accountable for what took place? For the lives either lost or destroyed? And why was there such surprise by the wealthy upper class that there would be unrest at the injustice of it all? I found myself becoming angry and frustrated on behalf of the families of the mine workers. They deserved better then what they received. And while nothing can right the wrong that was done to them I felt that karma, in the end, found its way to Mr. Newsome.

The one thing that confused me was Jane's relationship with Michael Behan. I couldn't really get a good feel between the two and while it didn't distract me from the main story - it did fall a little flat for me.

Overall, I found this to be a very good book. I was intrigued by the main character Jane, wrapped up in the mystery, and experienced a lot of emotions over the causes of Norrie's death. I would definitely recommend this book, particularly if you enjoy learning some history while reading an engaging tale.

I received this book via NetGalley from Minotaur books. And while I appreciate the opportunity to read and review it, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A solid historical mystery. The main character was interesting and well developed. I would read more in this series if it were ongoing.

Taking place in 1910 New York, this good mystery novel keeps you interested until the very end. Has a great since of place. Goes to show you that the quiet one in the background is more observant than most think. Read in one sitting.

This is an excellent historical mystery set in 1910. It is told as the main character writing down her story many years after it happened. The ending was far more complex than I expected. It would be a great book for book club discussions. It hints at more stories with the same sleuth, and I eagerly await them!

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, mystery, and suspense. You have no idea how happy I was to come upon this gem!

This story takes place in 1920s New York City. An elderly employee of Jane Prescott passed away and our charming lady's maid is on a lookout for a new job. And she lands a great employment with Benchley "new money" family that recently relocated to New York City. Jane is being appointed as a lady's maid to Benchley's two young daughters: glamorous and spoiled Charlotte and shy and obedient Louise.

One fine fall morning, Charlotte announces her engagement to a wealthy playboy Norrie Newsome. New York's society and Benchley family are taken aback by this shocking statement, as everyone expected for young Newsome to propose to his childhood sweetheart. The engagement is set to be officially announced at midnight on Christmas Eve... but Norrie is found dead at the family library minutes before the midnight. Newsome family shocks New York's society once again. Will this be the last time? Hmmm...

A very handsome and determined reporter, Michael Behan, takes an interest in our charming Jane. He makes a deal, one of his "unprinted" discoveries for one of her stories about Benchley family. While everyone suspects rising anarchists in Norrie's death, Jane and Michael team up to find the real murderer of the young Newsome. And what a discovery our adamant Ms. Prescott will make!

A sensational page-turner. I hope this is first of many books that include marvelous Jane Prescott.

In early twentieth century New York, money is important, but good breeding is even more important. Lady’s maid Jane Prescott has worked for some of the city’s most influential and pedigreed citizens. Her new job with the Benchley’s is slightly different. The Benchley’s are “new money” and don’t understand the rules of polite society. They manage to ostracize themselves without even trying. Their daughter, Charlotte’s engagement to a notorious philanderer, Norrie, further shocks their neighbors. Things get worse for the Benchley family when Norrie is found murdered, and this is where Jane comes in. As a servant, she has been trained to be unobtrusive, as a woman, she intelligent and savvy, and she sets out to solve the murder. I really enjoyed this book, the rules of the wealthy and influential have changed over the last one hundred years, but there are still rules, and I liked seeing a woman with intelligence and determination work around those rules