This was better than the first novel in the Rose Gallagher mystery series! I like how spunky Rose is! The plot was very fast-paced and I love how Theodore Roosevelt was the center of the story! I also loved the paranormal aspect of the book! The writing itself is very charming and funny! The only thing I disliked was that some scenes seemed drawn out. Still, it was a light, fun, easygoing read! I recommend this for fans of Jennifer Ashley, Deanna Raybourne, and Shelley Noble

I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH! I have bragged about this book to everyone I know. This has got to be one of my top 5 favorite series of all time! It just has a little bit of everything you want - adventure, thrills, mystery, romance, the supernatural, and more! It's a great mix of historical fiction, romance, and suspense genres. Drop everything and go read this!

New York City during the Gilded Age has always fascinated me, so I've enjoyed reading Erin Lindsey's Rose Gallagher mysteries with fantasy. In the 2nd installment, A Golden Grave, Rose Gallagher is no longer the housemaid but living in the regular quarters of Thomas Wiltshire's Fifth Avenue townhouse. Rose is in training as a member of the Pinkerton Agency's Special Branch and works alongside her former employer Thomas Wiltshire. The Special Branch deals with supernatural powers and Rose Gallagher's special skills are critical to their investigations.

When Erin Lindsey takes us to New York City's Gilded Age, she doesn't hold back. We visit private clubs, meet with Teddy Roosevelt as a young man and candidate for Mayor of New York City. Though only about 1% of the population has "luck"/supernatural powers, this special gift is prevalent among the wealthiest citizens. When multiple deaths of Roosevelt's supporters occur during a political convention, Rose, Thomas and their team must determine whether a new form of luck is involved and how to find those that wield power. It takes ingenuity, courage and special sleuthing but A Golden Grave is an adventure worth following!

I have tried to love Erin Lindsey. I have tried so hard. I wanted to. I desperately, desperately wanted to. The first book in this series fell flat. I was hopeful that the second one would redeem the series. But this is where I give up. I draw the line. I cannot try anymore with this series.

The tension between the two main characters, Rose and Thomas, felt forced. For some reason, this book just did not resonate with me.

This was an entertaining historical story with action and it was well written!I liked how the author described the social dynamics and the political and social tension of the Gilded Age.Both characters were interesting.A Golden Grave is fast-paced and keeps you on your toes.

A Golden Grave is the second book in the Rose Gallagher paranormal cozy series by Erin Lindsey. Released 17th Sep 2019 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 400 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a nice period cozy mystery with romance and some paranormal plot threads. Rose is a newly graduated Pinkerton agent who worked as a housemaid before becoming an investigator. There is a lot of upstairs/downstairs subplot action going on and some exploration of the rigid society rules which defined class in 1886.

The plot is woven around a skeleton framework of actual historical events and people in NYC during the time period (1886) covered in the book. The author has done some research and if the actual racism and class resentment, corruption, sexism, and anarchy of 'real' history is smoothed over somewhat to make it more palatable for readers, I, for one, didn't mind at all. It's not missing, it's just toned down a bit.

The plot is easy to follow, the characters are reasonably well developed, the romance elements are slow moving (and chaste), the murders are bloodless (well, mostly bloodless), and for readers new to the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone novel. I did enjoy it and the scope of 'luck' (psychic talents) seems almost endless - it seems inevitable that there will be more books along soon. The author has a readable, accessible, entertaining writing style and I enjoyed my first introduction to this series enough that I intend to go and seek out the first book.

Four stars

I jumped into the Rose Gallgher Mysteries at book 2 and it was okay! You can definitely pick this book up, and read it as a stand-alone.

It is set in the Gilded Age of Manhattan, which was extremely intriguing to me from a historical perspective, and then the idea of a female lead character solving mysteries- sign me up!

Rose has just become a Pinkerton Agent, and with that comes a host of adjustments, such as who to trust- including her partner, Thomas Wiltshire.

A case falls into her lap, so to speak, and she jumps at the chance to prove herself as a new Pinkerton. However, she fails to realize how intense this new case is going to be- after 6 deaths, the next target is Thomas Roosevelt, the mayor of NYC.

Rose and Thomas spend the novel tracking down the murderer in classic mystery style, and I look forward to reading more of the Rose Gallagher Mysteries!

If you enjoy historical fiction, mysteries and all things NYC, grab this novel- you will enjoy reading it.

Erin Lindsey takes us to Gilded Age New York with a paranormal accent. The Golden Grave has Roosevelt contesting for mayor of New York and there is an anarchist with the ability to stop someone's heart with an electric shock who wants to kill him. Pinkerton's Rose Gallagher and her partner Thomas Wiltshire are trying to use their psychic powers to track down the killer who has already killed 6 Roosevelt supporters.. Time is short and the police are not helping. Tesla is assisting with magical artifacts. to identify people with the luck. Intriguing combination of history and invention.

Great historical mystery. The added twist of a touch of paranormal makes it all the better. Strong female lead.

Rose and Thomas take on a new case. This time they are trying to stop the assassination of Roosevelt as he runs for Mayor of NYC. With the help of friends and family they work to find the man with powerful luck and stop him before he succeeds.
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I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and the promises of Gilded Age romance. I also like historical fiction that brings in interactions with real historical figures. However, the main characters just didn't connect for me, and I found the paranormal elements just a bit too convenient.

This was not a book for me - i think i was drawn to the gorgeous cover and the blurb about historical mystery. I missed the paranormal and supernatural part - This is no reflection on the book whatsoever. I just don't like reading anything paranormal or supernatural -

What a difference between book one and book two! Maybe it’s because I suspected the supernatural element this time, or maybe because said element was a more palatable “luck” as opposed to shades/ghosts. Or really, perhaps the writing was simply that much stronger. Whatever the case, this is a thoroughly enjoyable Gilded Age mystery with a sci-fi twist, and I definitely recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I hadn't read a book in this series and obviously didn't read the description very well -- I completely missed the part about the paranormal mysteries. The part about Rose Gallagher being a Pinkerton agent and, heavily implied, being in love with the man, Thomas, who brought her in to the agency when he recognized her ability to see the spirits/shades. One night, she overhears her handler and his boss seemingly implying that she is not going to be a good fit for the agency, that she's not catching up as soon as she should. So when Sergeant Chapman comes to the door of the house that she's staying at, she immediately takes on his case. It seems six delegates from the Republican Convention are now dead and the sergeant isn't sure it's typhoid as the coroner is implying. In the course of her investigation, she meets Nicola Tesla.
It was an interesting read, especially with Rose trying to figure out how to align a new life, which seemed like it was going to solve so many problems, with the old one. I didn't feel like I missed much by not having read the first book in the series but I still wished I had read it.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out September 17th
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

A GOLDEN GRAVE by Erin Lindsey
The Second Rose Gallagher Mystery

Rose Gallagher is quickly learning that life as a newly recruited Pinkerton agent isn't all it's cracked up to be. She's having difficulty with some of the lessons, the other recruits look down on her, and even her friends seem to think she's changed. Meanwhile, every night it seems all she is doing is trying to catch shades. But when six Republican delegates drop dead at a convention, Sergeant Chapman believes something supernatural must be at work and comes to Rose and her dashing partner, Thomas Wiltshire, for help. Could it be the work of a shade? Or is it something more sinister? Thomas and Rose must gather their allies to prevent the assassination of mayoral candidate Theodore Roosevelt.

There is so much to love about A GOLDEN GRAVE. The historical detail provides a rich backdrop and including famous luminaries of the day, from Nikola Tesla to Samuel Clemens to Theodore Roosevelt himself is icing on the cake! The paranormal aspect is captivating and the things they encounter and methods they employ are mesmerizing. There's pulse pounding adventure, riveting drama, and a well plotted mystery.

This second Rose Gallagher Mystery spotlights the differences of the classes. The working class, people such as Clara, the denizens of Five Point, the upper class, like Jonathan Burrows, and even the various political groups from Tammany Hall to Republicans, Democrats, the Labor party, even socialists and anarchists all strive to keep their identity while they look down upon others, yet Rose is now forced to straddle two, an Irish maid who now consorts with the rich as her new job forces her to blend in. Meanwhile the sexual tension between Rose and Thomas is electrifying. A star crossed love to be certain, yet with so much against them, and so much at risk, will they follow their hearts?

A GOLDEN GRAVE is a gripping historical mystery filled with political intrigue, paranormal adventures, and a simmering love story that is close to boiling. I love everything about it and can't wait to be transported back in time for their next adventure.

In A Golden Grave, Erin Lindsey has crafted a novel that is mystery, romance, paranormal, and history lesson all in one. A few months before the story begins, Rose Gallagher was a poor Irish maid in the household of Thomas Wiltshire. After helping to solve the mystery of Thomas’ kidnap in the previous novel, Rose is now a Pinkerton Agent in a special branch dealing with supernatural occurrences, and her sleuthing partner is her former employer (and secret desire) Thomas Wiltshire.

Rose and Thomas are tasked with solving a puzzling crime. Six delegates at the 1886 Republican mayoral convention have been murdered, seemingly by the touch of a hand. The police department has covered up the murders, claiming that the victims died of a new form of typhoid. But it is obvious to Rose and Thomas that something else is afoot, perhaps something supernatural, and they plan to do their best to protect the Republican candidate, Theodore Roosevelt.

Without the aid of the police, Rose and Thomas start their investigation by visiting their friends who have ‘luck’:

“It’s a form of what’s called luck,” I explained, “which is just a broad term for any sort of extraordinary ability we don’t really understand... less than one percent of the population is lucky but it’s hereditary, so families with luck do tend to end up moving in the same circles.”

One friend’s luck means that she can smell where people have been, another’s that he can tell what someone has ingested in the last few days; another has a photographic memory, and Rose can sense the presence of a ghost. Using the talents of their friends, Rose and Thomas start to put together the picture of a criminal intent on harming the upper echelons of society and giving the common man a chance to rise to power. Now it’s a race to find this man who can seemingly kill by touch, and protect Theodore Roosevelt and his supporters from harm.

The mystery in A Golden Grave is well done and believable (if you can accept the paranormal activities) with everything being nicely tied up in the end - something I am coming to appreciate more and more. Rose is an interesting heroine. She is completely out of her league in the ballrooms of New York and has the added problem of an Irish accent at a time when the Irish were disdained. Rose is in the process of discovering her own worth, and is desperately trying to fit in with the Pinkertons but to not lose herself or her history along the way. It was harder to get to know Thomas as the book is written from Rose’s point of view. This is the second book in the series and, not having read the first, I may have missed out on learning more about him.

The romance was a little disappointing. There is some sexual tension between Rose and Thomas running through the book and there is one romantic encounter, but I wish Ms. Lindsey had notched the tension up a little. It would have been nice to have more casual touches or longing looks - things that would have added to the sense of a developing romance between the pair. I would have also liked more insight into what Thomas was thinking - it’s not until this delightful scene near the end of the book that we are given a glimpse of his thoughts and a hope that there may be more romance in the future.

“Watching you develop as an agent has been my singular pleasure...But it comes at a cost, as has been made vividly clear to me this week...And so I must ask myself, is it a cost I can bear? Do I have the strength to fear for you? Or, God forbid, to lose you? If the answer is no, what does that mean for our future as partners?”

My heart was beating fast now, the blood rushing to my face. He’d opened the door. It was time to walk through. “And what about our future as Thomas and Rose?”

I’m not sure what I expected, but I was completely unprepared for the look of quiet torment that flickered through his eyes. “There the dilemma is no less real, as you must know.”

Ms. Lindsey does a wonderful job bringing the charm and shadiness of the Gilded Age of New York City to life - from the corruption of the police force and Tammany Hall to the Fifth Avenue ballrooms to the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. She also peppers the mystery with famous people from history - Roosevelt, Nikola Tesla, Mark Twain, brilliantly using Tesla to craft all sorts of amazing devices to help find the criminals. It’s very entertaining to watch her weave real life events and friendships into the mystery. I commend all her homework!

The second book’s mystery can stand on its own but reading the first book in the series, Murder on Millionaire’s Row, may help the reader understand Rose and Thomas more. If you enjoy some history in your mystery, with the addition of some supernatural elements, you will want to add A Golden Grave to your TBR pile.

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This second book in the Rose Gallagher series was, in my opinion even better than the first. While I felt that the previous book was a bit slow at times, I didn't feel that way about this one at all. It was nice to be back with Rose and Thomas, and Clara as well. This time around the mystery involves several mysterious deaths that Rose and Thomas are sure have a supernatural element to them. As they investigate Rose goes undercover and attends a ball for the first time. I really enjoyed reading those chapters with Rose out of her element.

The most noteworthy thing about this book is the fact that the case they are working on involves an assassination attempt on young mayoral candidate Theodore Roosevelt. Along the way they also meet Mark Twain, and Nikola Tesla, whose inventions play a big part in solving the mystery. I thought the author did an excellent job of blending historic figures and events into a fictitious story.

Another thing I especially enjoyed was the little bit of romance that was added. I was afraid the author was going to string us along for a lot longer before anything significant happened, but that wasn't the case. That's not to say that there aren't some kinks to work out. Feelings were aired, but there is the whole 'this could never work' scenario to get through, but I'm sure things will eventually work out.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Fans of the paranormal mystery will enjoy this well-written story following intrepid Irish American housemaid Rose Gallagher. This is the second in the series, further developing the character of Rose and amplifying her skills in dealing with the supernatural. The series highlights the setting of late 19th century New York City. This time Rose Gallagher gets involved with the NYC mayoral candidate Theodore Roosevelt. She must stop a killer with paranormal powers.

I read the first book in this historical mystery series, Murder on Millionaires’ Row, back in 2018 and thought it was a solid beginning to her new series.

This author has written other fantasy novels but the Rose Gallagher series is a new genre for her and I thought she made a nice transition but I wasn’t completely sold on the series as there were some things that I thought needed a little working out and polishing.

While I had some reservations, I know that the transition from fantasy to historical fiction can be challenging so I decided to give this series another stab and see how things evolved with this latest installment.

Summary

Rose Gallagher always dreamed of finding adventure, so her new life as a freshly-minted Pinkerton agent ought to be everything she ever wanted. Only a few months ago, she was just another poor Irish housemaid from Five Points; now, she’s learning to shoot a gun and dance the waltz and throw a grown man over her shoulder. Better still, she’s been recruited to the special branch, an elite unit dedicated to cases of a paranormal nature, and that means spending her days alongside the dashing Thomas Wiltshire.

But being a Pinkerton isn’t quite what Rose imagined, and not everyone welcomes her into the fold. Meanwhile, her old friends aren’t sure what to make of the new Rose, and even Thomas seems to be having second thoughts about his junior partner. So when a chilling new case arrives on Rose’s doorstep, she jumps at the chance to prove herself – only to realize that the stakes are higher than she could have imagined. Six delegates have been murdered at a local political convention, and the police have no idea who–or what–is responsible. One thing seems clear: The killer’s next target is a candidate for New York City mayor, one Theodore Roosevelt.

Convinced that something supernatural is afoot, Rose and Thomas must track down the murderer before Roosevelt is taken out of the race–permanently. But this killer is unlike any they’ve faced before, and hunting him down will take them from brownstones to ballrooms to Bowery saloons. Not quite comfortable anywhere, Rose must come to terms with her own changed place in society–and the fact that some would do anything to see her gone from it entirely (summary from Goodreads).

Review

I recall from the previous book that Rose’s mysteries had more of a paranormal element. While it didn’t work as well for me in the first book, I found that it worked way better in this second book. I don’t know if that’s due to the fact that I was expecting it in this book whereas with the first book I wasn’t expecting it, but either way I found the supernatural worked much better here.

In this book Rose has made the transition from housemaid to Pinkerton agent and I like her much better as an agent. I think the role suits her much better than housemaid. In this book I felt a more solid connection to her character that I didn’t feel in the first book. I also like seeing how she starts to find value in her future self and accomplishments.

I especially loved watching the growth and tension between Rose and her partner, Thomas. I am ken more eager to see how they come together in future books. I thought their relationship added a lot of chemistry and tension to the overall story and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The one thing that stood out to me in this book was how much more polished and thought out the characters were. I felt like we see a lot of character growth in this book compared to the first.

This is only the second book and I am sure that there will be a lot more exciting things to come for Rose and Thomas and this book makes me eager to find out more, unlike the first book which left me satisfied but not craving more—this book left me craving more. I enjoyed watching the mystery unfold and found it tantalizing and mysterious. I didn’t know what to make of some of the clues and couldn’t help but get caught up in the ‘hunt’. This book can easily read as a standalone, but I am happy that I read the first book so I could appreciate the evolution of the characters more in this one.

Book Info and Rating

Kindle Edition, 390 pages
Expected publication: September 17th 2019 by Minotaur Books
ASIN B07NZF4LDB
Free review copy provided by publisher, Minotaur Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: historical mystery, paranormal

Rose Gallagher and Thomas Wiltshire are back in “A Golden Grave”, the follow-on to Erin Lindsey’s “Murder on Millionaire’s Row”. I’m hooked on this series. It combines Gilded Age New York, Teddy Roosevelt’s campaign for Mayor, the electrical inventions of Nikolas Tesla, and Lindsey’s trademark addition of spooks, shades and “luck”. The chase is on to find an assassin who is killing politicians, and seems to have Roosevelt in his sights.

I can’t wait for the next in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.