WHile some parts of this book were fun to read, others became very tedious and I found myself wanting to skip ahead. I didn't, sticking it out to the end.

Deception by Gaslight takes place in NY at the turn of the twentieth century. Protagonist Genevive Stewart is from a wealthy if unconventional family. She works at a news paper as the only woman on staff. During this time a great many of the NY 400 families are being robbed by someone the press has dubbed ROBIN HOOD. As soon as I read that my mind immediately went to the MGM musical Robin and the Seven Hoods.

The hero is a wealthy man who may or may not be RobinHood and Genevive is determined to find out if he is. Plot points appear, diverge, and the two are thrown together more times than not. A plot about tenement housing issues gets these two "working" together to unearth a sinister plot.

There are a couple of murders, more robberies, and the identity of Robin Hood is revealed towards the end. Who it is is almost laughable.

For a debut novel this one is well written and I thoroughly enjoyed the main character of Genevive. The ending hints at this being a series, so that's something to look forward to.

It's winter 1888 NYC. Genevieve Stewart is young woman born to one of the city's wealthiest families. After a failed engagement, she becomes a journalist, determined to make a name for herself. Following a lead on the biggest story in the city, "Robin Hood". She finds herself in a 5 Points alley, late at night with a body and 3 terrifying men. When 2 of them threaten her, the 3rd, a very handsome young man, comes to her rescue. A few night later, while attending a ball, who does she see across the room, but the man who saved her that night in the alley, Daniel McCaffery. After confronting him about his reasons for being in one of the worst parts of the city, these 2 unlikely allies will try to uncover the mysteries behind "Robin Hood" and the number of bodies that are turning up in his wake.

So starts Deception by Gaslight. I'm fairly new to reading Historic Mysteries. I usually go more for Adventure Thrillers. I asked to review this book because I liked what I read in the blurb. A young headstrong woman, in an age when women were not meant to make their own way, is determined to live her life on her own terms. Even if it means finding herself in a bit of trouble now and then. This book doesn't disappoint.

The story has a lot of details as to what life was like in 1888 NYC. From the rich and powerful and their lavish parties, to the working poor, living in the slums.

If you like Historic Mysteries, (or even Cozy Mysteries) I would highly recommend this book. It will keep you turning the pages, even though it's not a real heart pounding story. I hope this is the beginning of a series for these 2 characters. I'd definitely be interested in reading more of their exploits together. A really good read.

Deception By Gaslight is a wonderfully written novel with characters worth rooting for. I honestly couldn’t put the book down. Genevieve and Daniel make a great sleuthing pair. I loved the setting of the story, taking place in New York City in the late 1800s. The author’s attention to detail is amazing and made me feel like I was actually in the ballroom or the back alleys of the city.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a dash of romance added in

"Deception by Gaslight" managed to be quite the surprise for me. I hadn't read anything by Kate Belli and the large majority of the historical fiction I've read lately was a bit of a let down. I was rather wary of tackling a historical mystery in light of that. This book managed to blow me away. I enjoyed it far more than I expected I would. I'm definitely going to read more from Kate Belli in the future.

I haven't read many historical mysteries lately but the synopsis of this one sounded intriguing. This time period is fascinating and Kate is an interesting character. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

This was a really good historical mystery. It was extremely well written, and I felt I could relate to the characters and their stories. Chapters flowed nicely making it a nice enjoyable cozy read. I highly recommend both this author and series.

Genevieve Stewart is from a prominent but eccentric family. After a broken engagement she wants to prove herself as a reporter. She begins to investigate a thief styling himself as “Robin Hood” for the NYC Globe newspaper.

Through her investigations she meets Daniel McCaffrey. He is the mysterious heir to the Van Joost fortune with a questionable background who just happens to be at all the crime scenes.

But “Robin Hood” goes beyond simply robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. Dead bodies begin to appear with the robberies and Genevieve can help but suspect Daniel.

The attraction and secrets between Genevieve and Daniel begin to mount. Can they trust each other before they become targets themselves?

An impressive debut novel. Kate Belli has created so many characters to work with for subsequent books for a series. I became invested in the main characters. As well as in Daniel’s friend Rupert and Genevieve’s friends Callie and Eliza. The backdrop of NYC corruption in the late 1800’s is compelling too.

P.S. Beautiful cover

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC

This was the perfect mystery/thriller. The setting of the book was mesmerizing, The characters were developed well, never a dull moment. If you're in the market for a great mystery to be sucked into, pre-order this one.