Cover Image: Death of a New American

Death of a New American

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Member Reviews

Don't usually read mysteries but this one I really enjoyed! A lot of history with on who did it? Enjoyed the characters a different mixture of not only class but personalities. Had me on the edge of my seat and learned a lot of history that was going on at that time in history. If you enjoy history and adventure and who done it,this is your book!

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3.5/5⭐️

While this book was fine, I’m a little ambivalent about it. I almost felt that the murder mystery took backseat to social issues (women’s suffrage, immigrant racism, mental illness, etc.)...important issues but not what I anticipated focusing on. I found the writing a little choppy with abrupt changes in time/place at times. I also found it a bit unbelievable that the main character Jane (a lady’s maid) found herself in such close, personal relationships with her employers...not to mention she seemed to have quite a lot of free time to devote to other things...like amateur sleuthing.

However, I do want to go back and read the first in series...that should help give a deeper understanding of the characters and perhaps I’ll also want to read any future books in the series.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

Out 4/9

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The second book in the Jane Prescott Historic series finds Jane working a ladies maid to Louise Blanchly. In 1912 Jane travels with Blanchlys to Long Island as Louise is married William Tyler. While there they will plan the wedding. Charles Tyler is known for putting down the Italian mafia of the Black Hand in New York City. Jane quickly becomes friends with nursery maid, Sofia who is later found dead in the nursery with the baby is crying in the floor. Jane is determined to find the answer to who killed Sofia as everyone is concerned for a kidnapping attempt that went wrong. Will Jane succeed in the quest? There are a number of twists and red herrings that will hold your attention before the surprising end. This was the first time I have read this author and I will read her again. I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure:' Thanks for a copy from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

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This mystery was set in 1912 in New York. The story was rather sad as the person who was murdered was a likable character and the murder destroyed more than one life without benefiting anyone. There was a lot of historical detail about what was in the news at the time, from the sinking of the Titanic to a major women's suffrage march. While interesting, most of it was not directly related to the mystery. The characters were interesting and acted realistically.

Jane was asked to discreetly investigate a murder, but this time her unique knowledge as a servant was not used to solve the mystery. She just asked questions. When Jane discovered pertinent clues, she followed up on them but we're not even told what the clue was until later. The mystery was not very complicated, so it would have been fairly easily solve if we knew the hidden clues as Jane learned them. Though this was not a puzzle mystery, I still had two main suspects, and I was correct that one of them was a murderer.

There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical mystery.

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What a delight! Mysteries are not my number-one genre, but you needn't be a mystery fan to love this book. The characters were beautifully fleshed out, of their time with all the prejudices that entails (the story is set in 1912) but relatable to nonetheless. The narrator, Jane, is no supersleuth or genius, not overly quirky in the way of many mystery protagonists; she's simply someone you enjoy spending time with, with a dry sense of humor. The plot zipped along. And six-year-old Mabel is somewhat precocious, she is (thankfully) not cloyingly so; the depiction of her is a true sign of the author's immense skill. I'm really looking forward to reading the first book in this series and to keeping an eye out for future books.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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In 'Death of a New American,' Mariah Fredericks takes on a complex tale of the Gilded Age. When murder intrudes upon the arrangements for a high-society wedding, it entangles lawmen and gangsters, politicians and society matrons. Only a trusted servant with the ability to maneuver both above and below stairs can sort the threads of truth from the fabric of lies, and even then she needs the assistance of a newspaper man she had previously spurned.

While touching on familiar Gilded-Age themes of wealth and class, corruption, political expediency, and ethnic gang wars, this novel manages to be both a compelling mystery and a treatise on womanhood: their domestic and financial subjugation, their fight for the vote, and their private struggles with motherhood that will resonate with modern readers.

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historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-setting, murder, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths

Addicted as I am to well researched historicals, this one really makes the grade!
It certainly seems appropriately researched (I'm geeky about checking such things) in areas related to the story line. The characters are all interesting and engaging even the brainless ones. The sleuthing is fascinating with the sort of plot twists and very red herrings. There are a couple of things that I wish I could address, but that would definitely be in spoiler territory.
Bottom line is that it held me captive and I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

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It is always a happy day when I get approved for an e-arc on Netgalley, particularly when it is a book I am really looking forward to. Needless to say, I was quite excited to be approved for Mariah Fredericks new book Death of a New American and immediately started reading when I received it.

The second in the series, we return to Jane Prescott’s world right after the sinking of The Titanic. She continues to work for the Benchley family and is now helping Louisa prepare for her upcoming society wedding. But as we know nothing ever goes as planned. Waring parents, a groom with a wandering eye, and murder all conspire to to derail the wedding. Add in a larger then life crime fighting Uncle with a propensity for the spotlight and a relentless reporter and you have the making of a great book.

I found myself enjoying this book even more then the first. The mystery was well done - and the reasoning behind it reflecting the reality of the time. But what really drew me in was Jane. I found myself really liking Jane after reading the first book in the series. She is smart, honest, and humble. Her sleuthing skills are quite sharp and she is always willing to stand up for what is right despite the consequences for doing so. In Death of A New American we get to know her and her thoughts better. What I am eagerly awaiting is how her own life will proceed. She is so busy serving others she has little time for her personal life. I am hopeful

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the review e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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