I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, Murder on Millionaire's Row and didn't hesitate to give it 5 stars. While some series can suffer from a finale slump, this third entry easily earned its own 5 stars. It can be read as a stand alone but the reader, I think, gets so much more enjoyment reading them in order., Several things about this series caught my attention from the start - I have a weakness for historical mysteries, female protagonists.  When  those come together, well, I will happily scrimp on sleep to stay up late reading.

Erin Lindsey has earned her place on my must read mystery list and I will waste no time reading more books by her, whenever they are published.

Maisie Dobbs meets the X-Files in this fun, paranormal historical mystery series. In this installment, the characters leave NYC and head out west to Dakota Territory.

Rose Gallagher, a Pinkerton paranormal investigator, is working again with aristocratic fellow agent Thomas Wiltshire in the American west to solve a mystery for Theodore Roosevelt.  Cattle and people are being massacred across the countryside of Roosevelt's ranch.  The rancher and Indians blame each other and the Badlands are aflame in 1887.  Was it a paranormal monster?  Who is orchestrating the chaos.  Rose and Thomas explore their tender feelings for each other in this out of town location.  Can it survive the return to New York?  Read and enjoy.

This review first appeared November 2020 online in Historical Novels Review. 
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-silver-shooter-a-rose-gallagher-mystery/

The Silver Shooter is the exhilarating and entertaining third in Lindsey’s Rose Gallagher historical fantasy mystery series. Set in 1887, it opens in New York with Rose and her elegantly tailored mentor Thomas Wiltshire receiving an assignment from Theodore Roosevelt. Rose has risen from maid living in the slums of Five Points to Pinkerton agent specializing in otherworldly crime.

Roosevelt tells a tale set in the Dakota Badlands of “a murder, a monster, and magic,” a phrase Lindsey uses as a chapter ending, one of her many effective closings that entice readers onward. Lindsey cleverly intertwines these three threads into a multi-layered plot with twists and surprises for a fast-paced read. 

Soon Rose and Thomas are on their way to the West, far wilder than they imagined. Lindsey builds from historical aspects, Roosevelt’s ranching days and colorful associates, a deadly winter known as the Blue Snow, and an outfit of thug “cattlemen.” The author adds inherited magic arising when “fae and mortals occasionally coupled.” Magic people are “lucky,” with one of a variety of powers, some tending toward scientific, such as “elemental,” identification by touch of a soil’s minerals. Roosevelt has “uncanny magnetism” that “drew people to him like moths to a flame,” thus combining his historical charisma with the fantastical premise.

As the third volume in a paranormal historical mystery series, many of the characters return for this next installment. Rose Gallegher, Pinkerton agent, move towards solving another mystery, this time in the Dakota Territory of 1887. Engaging and well written.

If I'm being honest I did not expect to enjoy or be glued to this book as much as I was.  At first I didn’t know were they were going with the story, so I had my reservations; but I was hooked!  It wasn’t my typical choice so I’m definitely glad I read it because I ended up enjoying it quite a lot...and hoping for a sequel!  You go along with two detectives but not your usual kind, they are detectives that deal with unusual out of this world situations.  It interesting concepts, fun characters, cowboy on horse with gun type of setting, Indians vs Ranchers, and a little bit of romance!  such a fun, light read.  Takes you on a very imaginative journey but sometimes that’s all you need!

This was a fun cozy, historical mystery with all sorts of subplots and themes, including supernatural elements. Rose Gallagher, our protagonist, is a Pinkerton agent and is no stranger to solving mysteries (this is the third story in the series, but it can be a stand-alone read). Rose's exploits take her to the Badlands in order to solve the mystery and set things right.

Highly recommended if you enjoy cozy historical mysteries!

New to me author and series which I promptly fell in love with.  Outstanding writing, enjoyable characters, well plotted mystery, and I finished it with a huge smile on my face.

I did not read the description of this book very well and was quite shocked when I started reading it and it contained magic! Once I rearranged my expectations of the book though, I found it quite delightful. Rose Gallagher is a Pinkerton Agent in the special division that focuses on the paranormal. Her and her partner are sent to the wild west by Theodore Roosevelt to get to the bottom of several concerning occurrences.  I wouldn't technically put this book into the magical realism category, but the magic fits so well into our real world that it doesn't seem too far out of reach. Erin Lindsey combines character development with a moving and interesting plot to create a story that you will need just 5 more minutes to read over and over again.

The Rose Gallagher series is one of my favorites and The Silver Shooter is my favorite thus far! Pinkerton Agents Rose and Thomas are sent to the Dakotas by Teddy Roosevelt to investigate three mysterious happenings near his Ranch, Away from the rules and eyes of New York Society, Rose and Thomas enjoy the freedom and as always get right in the middle of the action. It is a combination of the paranormal, magic and evil but with the help of their friends manage to keep the peace between the ranchers and Lakota while solving the mysteries. Small spoiler - the end of the book was not at all what I was expecting and hope that next book comes quickly! Thank you to #NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy of #TheSilverShooter.

'It's the spring of 1887, and Rose Gallagher is finally coming into her own. She's the proud owner of a lovely little home near Washington Square, where she lives with her mother and friend Pietro, and she's making a name for herself as a Pinkerton agent with a specialty in things . . . otherworldly. She and her partner Thomas are working together better than ever, and mostly managing to push aside romantic feelings for one another. Mostly.

Things are almost too good to be true—so Rose is hardly surprised when Theodore Roosevelt descends on them like a storm cloud, hiring them for a mysterious job out west. A series of strange occurrences in the Badlands surrounding his ranch has Roosevelt convinced something supernatural is afoot.

It began with livestock disappearing from the range, their bodies later discovered torn apart by something monstrously powerful. Now people are dying, too. Meanwhile, a successful prospector has gone missing, and rumors about his lost stash of gold have attracted treasure hunters from far and wide – but they keep disappearing, too. To top it all off, this past winter, a mysterious weather phenomenon devastated the land, leaving the locals hungry, broke, and looking for someone to blame.

With tensions mounting and the body count rising, Roosevelt fears a single spark will be all it takes to set the Badlands aflame. It’s up to Rose and Thomas to get to the bottom of it, but they’re against the clock and an unknown enemy, and the west will prove wilder than they could possibly imagine…'
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3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

The Silver Shooter is the third book in Erin Lindsey's A Rose Gallagher Mystery series and is a historical mystery with a paranormal spin.

Theodore Roosevelt is back for this book and enlisting the paranormal aid of Thomas and Rose again on behalf of the Pinkerton Agency and this time their assignment will take them to the Badlands of the Dakotas.

I really love a historical mystery with paranormal elements, as they seem to be few and far between. Especially finding one that has a good balance of the paranormal, which I have found that this series has done well with so far.

I have adored the first two books in this series, but I found that this one just wasn't as intuiging as the others. I believe it may have been the pacing as it felt like quite a decent portion of the book was setting up the the conflict. From being recruited to traveling across states and then learning how to navigate their way around in their new surroundings, it just didn't pull me into the story the way the previous books did. Not to say that there isn't danger and excitement along the way, because there certainly is and some very big things happen in relations to the plot of the entire series that leave me anxious about how things will go from here. But it felt like the two conflicting mysteries(the ghost and the creature) yo-yoed in and out as the focus of the book's plot which made it feel less compelling.

It seems to me that the third book in a mystery series often ends up serving as kind of a lull in the series and then everything picks back up for the fourth book. So although I did not enjoy this book as much as I have the first two books and I'm worried with the way things were left between them, I am still looking forward to the next book in the series and am disappointed to have to wait a year to see how things will progress from where they left off.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for sharing an eARC of The Silver Shooter with me. This is my honest review.

The Silver Shooter is a romp of an adventure. Third in the Rose Gallagher Mystery series but the first one I’ve had a chance to read, this book takes place mainly in the Dakota Territory in 1887, with just a bit of Manhattan at the beginning and end of the book. Although historical fiction, the author has tossed in several real-life characters, most prominently the future president, Theodore Roosevelt. Along the way I got an excellent sense of what life was like in the Badlands in those days. Rose Gallagher is a great main character, and I could see her confidence in her abilities grow through the novel. What sets it apart from other historical fiction series is the element of the paranormal in the stories. Rose and her partner, Thomas Wiltshire, work for a “special branch” of the Pinkerton Detective agency. There is also a budding romance between Rose and Thomas that adds to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St, Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Silver Shooter is the third book in Erin Lindsey's rip-roaring Rose Gallagher series.  You don't need to read the two previous books in order to enjoy this one, as the story stands alone.  However, this series is such a hoot you won't want to miss a word.  Who knew a historical mystery with paranormal elements could be so much fun?

Rose Gallagher was formerly a maid for handsome and urbane Thomas Wiltshire in New York.  She is now a Pinkerton agent and Thomas's partner.  They aren't usual Pinkerton agents, however - they deal in unusual paranormal cases.  Rose is finally getting the hang of the work, though she struggles with her feelings for Thomas.  Enter Theodore Roosevelt (yes, THAT Theodore Roosevelt); there are weird occurrences happening near his ranch in the Badlands, and Mr. Roosevelt wants them to investigate the seemingly paranormal situation.  The city slickers head West and are soon caught up in a frightening investigation.  A horrible winter has decimated herds of cattle.  There's a ghost in their hotel, and dangerous men are looking for the deceased man's hidden treasure.  To round it all off, there's a mysterious creature ripping apart and devouring horses, cattle, and now men.  How can these terrifying situations possibly be related to one another?  Will they survive long enough to find out?

I have absolutely grown to love the fascinating characters in this series!  Rose came from humble beginnings as an Irish maid, but now she's living in a nice little home with her mother and friend Pietro.  She's also become quite the kickass agent who's capable of throwing grown men over her shoulder.  She has a sarcastic wit that I just adore.  Thomas is a wealthy man who can go from a formal ballroom in New York to the Wild West with apparent ease...though most cowboys don't have nice new jeans and silk shirts.  Rose and Thomas seem to be moving closer in their romance; out West they feel free to express their growing relationship.  The mystery here is fun and exciting; after all, we have cowboys, outlaws, treasure hunters, Lakota Indians...and let's not forget the monster!  Ms. Lindsey does a fantastic job of weaving historical characters and events into her novels.  Once again Teddy Roosevelt and Nikola Tesla make appearances, together with some other genuine western characters.  The action had me sitting on the edge of my seat.  The ending also had me in tears.  I won't give it away, but I will beg Ms. Lindsey to hurry up and get that next book out.  I'll be on pins and needles impatiently waiting to see how things are resolved!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.  I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Silver Shooter is the third book in the historical fiction mystery series featuring Rose Gallagher and written by Erin Lindsey.  The first two books are (1) Murder on Millionaires’ Row and (2) A Golden Grave, all mystery stories with a paranormal touch.  I have read all three in book number order.  These stories take place in the late 1880’s during the “Gilded Age” time period, (the years between the Civil War and the turn of the 20th century), when wealthy tycoons held the most political power and influence in the United States.  Books 1 and 2 are set in New York City; book 3 takes place in NYC and in the Dakota Territory out west.

Rose Gallagher, formerly an Irish housemaid for millionaire Thomas Wiltshire, but now his Pinkerton detective partner, has always dreamed of finding adventure far away from her origins in the poor, dangerous neighborhood of Five Points in lower Manhattan. Her evolution from housemaid to detective is presented through books 1 and 2.

In Murder on Millionaires’ Row, Rose is a housemaid in the employ of millionaire Thomas Wiltshire who is secretly in love with her employer.  When Thomas mysteriously disappears, Rose does not receive satisfaction from the police and solves his kidnapping using her own intuitive skills.  Rose learns  that Thomas, along with other Fifth Avenue millionaires, has special abilities, a.k.a. “luck”.  “Luck” refers to a breed of extraordinary abilities possessed by a small population who make up a paranormal  community of gifted, wealthy individuals. Thomas is actually a Pinkerton detective working in a special unit that focuses on cases involving paranormal events and beings.  He is impressed with Rose’s success in locating him and accepts her assistance in a case involving ghosts, murder and the opening of a portal to the Underworld.

Rose is determined, spunky and courageous even when faced with dangerous situations.  She survives a near death experience with a ghost and discovers afterward that she has developed the ability to sense and communicate with ghostly beings.  She may not have the”luck”, but her ability plays an important role in solving the case.  Rose is asked to join the special unit of the Pinkerton Detective Agency and to work alongside Thomas as his partner.

Rose continues to adapt to her new station in life, (from housemaid to detective), while struggling to overcome class differences.  In book 2, A Golden Grave, she is now partnered with Thomas and has to deal with her continuing feelings towards him, while working alongside him in a new capacity.  Rose and Thomas are from diverse backgrounds but complement each other as detective partners.  They rely upon each other’s strengths and weaknesses.  Rose and Thomas are called upon to prevent the assassination of Republican candidate Theodore Roosevelt, who is running for Mayor of New York City.
Rose may not have the “luck” naturally, but her ability to sense the presence of sprits remains. She and Thomas must discover why other politicians have been mysteriously murdered; the police are baffled.  The two Pinkertons suspect supernatural foul play and have several close calls with paranormal beings and death before the case is solved.

The latest book in this series, The Silver Shooter, finds the two detectives, Rose and Thomas, dispatched to the Dakota Territory of the Wild West by their client, Theodore Roosevelt.  They are asked to investigate mysterious murders that may have supernatural origins.  The West is wild beyond their expectations; several attacks on people and livestock have occurred and it is thought that some unknown creature is involved.  The change in setting from New York City to the Dakotas, away from societal and class differences among people, provides Rose and Thomas the opportunity to begin to express their feelings towards one another, without the obstacles of status that restrain them from pursuing a romantic relationship.

The chapters are short but full of plot content and actions.  There are twists and turns as the story becomes more complex and gripping.  This book seems longer in length than the first two, (I own them in paperback and I read book 3  as a Net Galley ebook), but the ambushes, snipers, stampedes, kidnapping, monstrous creatures, near death experiences - both shoot ‘em up and supernatural, kept me motivated to keep reading on.  Several new characters are introduced and recurring characters join forces with Rose and Thomas to solve this case.  This book ends with a surprising plot deviation; it will be quite interesting to see the continuing growth and development of Rose as a Pinkerton detective.  She has definitely found the adventure she sought.

I strongly recommend reading these books in order.  These stories contain plenty of action and adventure and the mysteries to be solved are not so easily predictable.  If you are a fan of historical fiction mystery writers such as Deanna Raybourn, Anna Lee Huber, Tasha Alexander, Shelly Noble, to name but a few, then you will thoroughly enjoy this book and the entire series by Erin Lindsey.  I look forward to book 4.

This series has it all - mystery, history and the paranormal with just a touch of romantic tension. It reads fine as a stand alone but, if this is the first one you are reading, make sure to have the previous two lined up for a binge read.
Rose Gallagher is the only child of an Irish immigrant mother and worked as a maid in the home of the posh gentleman, Thomas Wiltshire. (Her mother thinks she is still a maid) They have become investigative partners working for Pinkerton's special unit that investigates paranormal events and items. Rose is cooling her heels in The Tombs after getting caught trying to retrieve a paranormal piece of rock. Thomas finally manages to spring her and it isn't long before they are on to their next strange case. Their client is none other than Teddy Roosevelt. He has a big problem - a large number of his cattle have been mysteriously killed on his ranch out in the Badlands. Even the Lakota are spooked by the killings. Time for Rose and Thomas to trade in their familiar world of New York City and the attire that they are accustomed to wearing and off to the Wild West, on a ranch. Rose won't need her usual dresses and Thomas won't need a top hat and cane. What they will need is their wits if they are going to get to the bottom of this paranormal case.
This is one of my favorite series, the perfect escape for these trying times. The characters are wonderful with a nice banter and partnership between Rose and Thomas. The mystery itself kept me turning the pages way past my bedtime. I hope the series has a long run, it has a permanent spot on my must be read list.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

In 1887 New York City, Rose Gallagher is part of a special branch of the Pinkerton Agency and alongside her partner, Thomas, investigate paranormal happenings. Tasked by none other than Theodore Roosevelt, Rose and Thomas travel to the Dakota Territory to find out what has been killing livestock and what exactly is this “monster” many have reported seeing.

What a fun story and delight to read. I immersed myself in this world over a weekend and I did not want to leave so I quickly bought the two previous books in the series. I loved the setting, I loved the characters and even though I missed quite a bit of build-up into the romance with Thomas from the previous books, I still loved their forbidden love/two-lovers-from-different-social-classes trope. Basically, I want to be a Pinkerton agent and I want to be Rose Gallagher.

This is the third mystery in the Rose Gallagher historical mystery series. I haven’t read the other two books in the series, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book.

I really enjoyed the Old West setting of this book, set in the wilds of the Dakota Territory during the late 1880’s. I also liked all of the historical figures and references to Teddy Roosevelt, the Pinkertons, and the Badlands.

This series has the most interesting twist in that there is an otherworldly paranormal element with ghosts, portals, supernatural creatures, etc. I prefer to read historical mysteries without those elements. 

I did enjoy the touch of romance in this book. I presume the earlier books were leading up to these romantic interludes and they were very well done.

The Author’s Notes were so interesting to read about things like Cowboys at Teddy Roosevelt’s Inaugural parade. I was also delighted that the Buckshot Outfit (bad guys in this book) was loosely based on the Hashknife Outfit that were stars in any telling of Arizona history.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy books about the Old West and a little supernatural with their historical mystery. 4/5

Working as a maid for Pinkerton agent Thomas Wiltshire, Rose Gallagher displayed a sensitivity that brought her to his attention.  She is now a trained Pinkerton for their Special Branch, which deals with unexplained phenomena.  In a past case, she aided Teddy Roosevelt and he has now returned with another assignment.  In the Dakotas the past winter had been unnaturally harsh and the ranchers lost a great deal of cattle.  Now more cattle and horses have disappeared, only to be found brutally slaughtered.  

Thomas and Rose head for the western town of Medora, a once thriving town in the Dakota badlands.  Accusations have been made by both the ranchers and a band of Lakota tribe members and tensions are high.  On their first night Rose is visited by the ghost of a murdered prospector.  After being drawn into the actual murder scene as she slept, she is determined to also find his killer.  As the Pinkertons investigate there is an actual sighting of the creature that is causing a panic as more livestock and people are attacked.  The creature seems to be a combination of several animals.  Its’ size and speed confirm that it has been created for a purpose and is being controlled by someone.  Somehow it must be trapped and stopped.

Working in the west is a great change for Rose, who discovers the freedom of wearing pants and a love of riding.  She is a trained agent and this assignment tests the skills that she has learned.  The two agents have feelings for each other that they were forced to conceal from New York society.  As a former maid Rose would never be accepted, but in Medora there are no such restrictions.  She has to ask herself if they will once again be able to accept restrictions when they return to New York.  

The Silver Shooter takes you back to the Wild West with a touch of the supernatural.  Poker games at the saloon, a shootout in the streets, horse thieves and gold prospectors all play a part in Erin Lindsey’s tale.  She also touches on the plight of the Indians.  The story moves quickly and is populated with memorable characters.  This was a delight to read and I hope to encounter Thomas and Rose once again in the future.  I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing my review of this book.

historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, romantic, 1887, suspense, paramilitaries, supernatural, family-dynamics, friendship

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed book two, I really came for TR this time and certainly wasn't disappointed.
Rose Gallagher (former Irish maid to) and Thomas Wilshire (wealthy Knickerbocker) are Pinkerton agents in its special branch which only deals with the paranormal. Think of it as an excellent noirish detective yarn starring Steed and Mrs Peel but from New York and in the company of necromancers and witches (among others). TR gives them an assignment out in the Badlands where a horrible winter has been followed by a possibly supernatural creature which is devouring livestock and hunting animals alike and the situation has become dire. Solving the problem is further complicated by the rowdies of the area, the discord between ranchers and the Lakota, a ghost, and a madman. Lots of action (guns) and suspense along with some impossible romantic issues.
I was thoroughly impressed with the extensive research of the area, the times, TR and other notables as detailed in the author's notes at the end. I absolutely loved it and was compelled to read it in one day.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
PS: I went back and ordered book one.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2020/11/13/the-silver-shooter-by-erin-lindsey/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I have enjoyed this author in the fantasy realm and now her works of historical mysteries with magic, which is akin to fantasy, just not quite as far back in history?  The <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/250408-rose-gallagher" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Rose Gallagher</strong> </em></a>series is set in New York City at the time of Roosevelt, part of the gilded age which is charming but also so class oriented.  Rose begins as a housemaid to Sir Thomas, an Englishman of wealth.   Now there will be a few spoilers who have not read any of the series, as <strong>The Silver Shooter</strong> is the third book.

Rose has been infatuated with Thomas, which led to her saving his life. In the process, she discovers that most of the wealthy are<em> lucky</em>, which means they have some sort of magic.  She also learns Thomas is a Pinkerton agent  She becomes an agent under his mentoring.  Now they have a case in the wild west and Roosevelt is their client.

Our story is told from Rose's point of view. She works well with Thomas and she has learned much.  Her theories and strategies are welcomed and praised.  Rose does much of the work on this case.  I enjoyed their joint efforts along with old friends and some new ones, in solving the dangerous case.

Being away from New York and the pervasive class system, Rose and Thomas allow their romantic feelings to blossom a bit.  I'm all for it.  But what happens when they go home? I am getting a little bit of the why can't two adults have an adult conversation irritation. So I look forward to the next book, to see how things continue.  I'm left frustrated by the rigid, ridiculous class systems, although it happens often in stories of this time period.