A Murder on Jane Street
Author: Cathy Cash Spellman
Publisher: The Wild Harp & Company, Inc.
Publication Date: July 16, 2019
5 Stars

First, I just have to say, WOW! What a fantastic book! It was a wild ride from start to finish!

FitzHugh Donovan, a retired Irish NYPD cop, is urgently summoned by his next door neighbor, Mrs. Wallenberg, to her home. She tells him that she fears she is about to be murdered, and she has a secret that she needs to share with him. She is so worked up, though, that she can’t seem to get her story out. She asks him to come back later that night to pick up some books that will explain her story and provide evidence to back it up. When he goes back to see Mrs. Wallenberg, he finds she has been brutally murdered and her place ransacked. He calls in the NYPD to investigate. While surveying the property, one of the CSI techs finds an envelope addressed to Fitz in some bushes between his and Mrs. Wallenberg’s properties. Inside, Fitz finds three books and a letter that said, “You will know what to do!”

This becomes the basis of a very intriguing murder. Fitz along with his friends and family form a cabal called the Bleecker Street Irregulars. This group delves into the books and diary to not only learn about Mrs. Wallenberg’s secrets, but also to decipher them. Mrs. Wallenberg was not who she appeared. Her secrets date all the way back to World War II and Hitler but seem to have ramifications that reach to present day.

This books is filled with many great and unique characters. Each character is uniquely drawn and fleshed out. You truly care about what happens to these people, and you care about the cause they are fighting for. For the most part, all of the players have a very serious tone, but the character Georgia provides some great LOL moments.

The plot is intricate and was like a rolling boulder that builds in intensity as it progresses. It was very easy to get wrapped up in the story, and I found it was hard to put down! I also appreciated how well written the novel was. The ending of the story is interesting, and the author does a great job of wrapping up all the storylines.

This book is much more than a mystery novel. It is also a conspiracy thriller, a work of historical fiction, a tale about ultimate sacrifices, a romance story, and a political thriller that is a treatise on not only Hitler’s time, but also today’s political entanglements. If these descriptions sound interesting to you, I think you will enjoy this book. This novel is grittier than most of the cozy mystery books that I read, but I truly enjoyed it.


Thanks to Net Galley and The Wild Harp & Company, Inc. for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #AMurderOnJaneStreet

This was a fun and exciting read. You have a retired police officer with family and friends who get drawn into the mysterious life of a murdered elderly neighbor. Journals, documents, and threats that all lead back to the Nazi error. Could Hitlers legacy still be alive? This book drew me in with its great characters and story line.

A genre-busting, exciting book that manages somehow to be almost all things to all readers, A MURDER ON JANE STREET delivers far more than its mild title would suggest. Sometimes cozy, other times almost Ludlum-esque in its paranoid depictions of WWII survivors infiltrating global life, with characters charming and engaging enough to keep everything moving forward. The addition of a romance seems unnecessary but doesn’t actually interfere. My only quibble is with the ending; author Cathy Cash Spellman was in too much of a hurry. She thought up a good one but gave it very little attention. I wished for more after reading so much on my way towards it. This is a very good book and its clear it is the first in a series. I can’t wait for more. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

DNF, read 82%
Will not leave a review on any site.

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Thanks for granting me access to this book

I think A Murder on Jane Street is going to be one of those books that isn't for everyone. Those who enjoy stories about conspiracies, hidden agendas, and the like will probably find something here to enjoy. For me, the story was somewhere a little south of okay. It did have potential, but so much of that potential wasn't realized. The book jumps around from character to character a little too often, and the short chapters don't really give time to get a feel for them. It felt scattered and between subplots, several characters, some of whom are a bit flat and underdeveloped, and trips to the past via our victim's diary, it was just all a bit much and failed to completely hold my interest. As I said, I feel like this one isn't a story for everyone, and it clearly missed the mark with me.

A Murder on Jane Street is fantastic suspense.. great plot and cast of quirky characters. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

I recommend this book. I give it 4 stars. It's well written and has strong characters. The story is gripping, it's a real page turner. A very good book.

I thought this would be a sweet cozy little mystery. While the characters lend themselves to that, it is much more. Smart and very involved.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this well written book. The characters were very richly drawn and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me glued until I finished it. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion

This is currently a dnf for me. I’m giving 3 stars because the writing is good. I’m not currently able to finish this story because the story isn’t appealing to me. I’m not interested in the early 1900s Russian spies or anything of that sort.

I will try again when I have more time. I read until 25% and couldn’t get into it. It does seem like an interesting book for those who enjoy historical set stories. I’m just not one of them.

Do give it a try.

A Murder on Jane Street must be the first in a series of mysteries by Cathy Cash Spellman. If she doesn’t take this delightful group of people to new books and new mysteries, it will be a waste. FitzHugh Donovan is a retired NYPD Chief of Police. He lives with his daughters Rory and Maeva and his granddaughter Finn. All are strong personalities who are devoted to each other.

When the ninety-some-year-old neighbor woman asked FitzHugh for help, he immediately commits to assist her, but then she is murdered before she has a chance to explain the threat she faces. Luckily she left some clues. Fitzhugh is able to call in the help of experts in archives, history, science and technology to assist, but when they finally understand who they are up against, it seems nothing can be done.

A Murder on Jane Street is a great introduction to an investigative team that will be fun to follow. It mixes a bit of romance with intrigue in a way that reminds me of the LoveSwept serial romance books with an investigative team who works together. I have to credit Spellman for a unique ending for her book. I can’t spoil it but will say I’ve not seen anything like it before.

A Murder on Jane Street will be released July 16th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.

A Murder on Jane Street at Wild Harp & Company
Cathy Cash Spellman author site

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/07/17/9781475606980/

Wow! This is one of the best books I've ever read! I loved it. So many great characters, a storyline that is incredible, and suspense and mystery. Really a great book, that I will think about for a very long time. The premise early on is that Hitler did not die when everyone said he did, and that he had a contingency plan that took him to Argentina and that his geneticists had taken his sperm to use to carry on his DNA to other generations and men to continue the 4th Reich and eventually put his descendants into the White House. This is not the heavy history laden book that that all sounds like! An old woman dies, tells her neighbor, she wants him to basically carry on her fight, and then before she can tell him anything, she gets murdered....on Jane Street, where they live. He, a former detective, and his daughters and granddaughter, plus a multitude of quirky smart friends, work hard on figuring everything out....or do they? This book has it all and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommend it to all.

I received an ARC of this book for my own opinion.
Loved it. In the first part of the book, you have a murder mystery and a wonderful cast of characters that bring this book to life. The second part of this book is the history of a time which still to this day evokes such a visceral reaction by all who read about it. Both halves are so well meshed together that I on the edge of my seat till the last page. A most excellent read.

5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating

Oh my goodness!!! Wow!!! This book is wild and will totally blow your mind! I am fascinated with World War II and this book lends a completely new perspective to history. I was riveted as I read this book! I highly, highly recommend this book!

I was given a digital version of this book by netgalley and The Wild Harp & Co. in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

I give most stories a 4 star rating. Once in a while a story comes along that grabs me at the beginning and hangs on until the end. This book did that to me and that's why I gave it 5 stars. I love the characters. Especially Geogia and her uncle. There is so much going on and this whole team is put together to right some wrongs. They tried to bring justice to an old woman who had been so brave her whole life. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cathy Cash Spellman and The Wild Harp & Company, Inc. for this ARC.

A fantastic story about a retired NYPD police chief and his Irish family solving the murder of his eldery next door neighbor. I've read most of Cathy Cash Spellman's books, and I enjoyed all of them but this one is my favorite. Please write more books featuring Fitzhugh Donovan!

This book had murder, mystery, romance and action all rolled into one amazing story. It starts out with a murder next door to a retired captain of the local police department. It is a grisly murder so Fitz and his clan want to find out what happened. Things go haywire when they are getting closer to the truth and are targeted for information that they don't quite have yet. Finn, Rory, Maeve and the rest of the gang want to do what ever is necesary to get justice while trying to unravel a mystery from WW2. I loved all the details that were put into this book and how it really makes you think could any of this be possible?

I was expecting a comfortable and cozy mystery a la Agatha Christie based on the title, but instead ended up reading something that felt like a mass market bestselling paperback I would have purchased at the airport. The characters are each given one or two quirks with very little else to define them. The story is largely plot driven, which isn't what I personally prefer, and I was often mixing up characters and who was who amongst the large cast. The story itself was interesting, but felt unrealistic, especially given that every single character appeared to be a World War II expert when it was convenient, regardless of their educational history or background. The story is inarguably action packed, however, and if one is looking for a fast paced read with a hint of conspiracy theory laced throughout it and ending in a bombshell twist, this would be the book to pick up. However, for those like myself who prefer 3D characters and actions that are believably backed up, this one will lose some of its intended punch.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy. This did not influence my review.

A riveting and masterful literary work. This story will hold you in its grip from start to finish. As the Donovan family and their friends embark on this investigation into the death of their neighbor you will be brought along on a tense ride of great detective work. The characters are brilliant, witty and smart. Along with the danger and mystery there is a beautiful love story that will warm your heart. The author does a magnificent job of engaging the reader at every turn and makes you want to keep turning the pages. I look forward to the next adventure in the series.