Margot Harriman, is head of B&H Foods, running a business in 1912 is no easy task. She is still looked upon as being unable to run the company effectively without a man’s help. When Margot goes into the plant over a holiday to pick up a report and finds a former employee dead with a mysterious note left behind, she sets out to find out why the employee died at the plant, and what does the note mean for the company? When Margot goes to Mancini & Associates to assist her in investigating what is going on, she meets Loretta “Rett” Mancini, a young woman in the same position of Margot, trying to make her way in a man’s world. Rett and Margot work together to solve the mystery behind the death and note, along the way there are some definite adventures especially for a woman of those times, a bit of LGBTQ romance and a good mystery to boot!

I found the mystery quite engaging, just when I thought I had it solved, the author reveals the truth and it was an ah-ha moment! Although, I’m not a big Victorian era fan, I enjoyed the way circumstances were portrayed in the book, such as not allowing women to have a bank account or items such as the three-piece law, where a woman must have three pieces of female attire on to avoid being arrested for dressing in male clothing. Interesting fact, not something I knew prior to this book. Well written, an engaging mystery, fun facts, overall, an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It's set in 1912 New York, right after the Titanic tragedy. This is one of my favorite periods in NYC so I couldn't resist requesting the book and it did not disappoint. It has strong female characters, who are charming, empowered working in a man's business and hiding their forbidden love for one another.

The story revolves around Margot Harriman who inherited her father’s canning business. Things seem to be going well, but when her father's retired assistant is found dead, she discovers some unsettling secrets of shady business conducted and decides to investigate which is difficult being a woman in a man's world. The story is told through Margot and Rett's perspective which keeps the story moving and gives a well rounded view of the mystery and the relationship between the women.

This is a great pick for lovers of historical cosy mysteries.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinions are my own.

This book was a very fun and cozy mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the time setting. Many of the struggles the women see in this book are still some of the same things we struggle with today and the author did a good job of representation. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

I found the pace to be a bit slow (35% through the text before feeling invested in the concerns/before the needs of the characters became clear), and the characters were under-written - that is, what they shared by way of circumstances and characteristic read as contrived (ah - both father figures had dementia... ah- both struggling to provide for their own future). The historical setting certainly invites generalized needs regarding women's rights and gender roles, but the presentation of both characters didn't provide the entry points/pathos for association b/c of circumstantial similarities.

A historical murder mystery with F/F romance and LBGTQ+ representation.

Margot is the CEO of a successful food canning company in 1912. She finds a former employee dead at her receptionist's desk one day with a cryptic note. This sparks a desire to find out what really happened by employing a private investigator, who also happens to be a woman. Together, they unravel a larger conspiracy while battling gender norms of the time.

This was a somewhat engaging historical murder mystery! I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story: Women in power, battling gender norms and taking risks in love, when in 1912, their kind of love was a crime.

I thought the main characters were well thought out and I wanted to be friends with all of them! The character development was the best part of the book!

The murder mystery part of the story was underwhelming. It wasn’t a high stakes-on the edge of your seat-I can’t wait to find out what happens next type of mystery.

But I still think this story is worth reading for the characters and the history. I think that part of this book is very important and needs to be told and shared!

I received an advanced copy of this e-book from NetGalley and Cathy Pegau. I leave this review voluntarily!

I love a cozy mystery and this hit all the points it needed to! I loved that it was set in the 1900's, I've really been enjoying historical reads! A perfect easy read!

The first American cannery was opened in 1812. By the 1880s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was investigating unlabeled additives and and fake products. The USDA began formal inspections of canneries in 1906 with the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act (also known as the Wiley Act) and the Federal Meat Inspection Act. These groundbreaking laws were largely prompted by public outrage following the publication of Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle," which exposed unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry.

This story is set in 1912, one hundred years after the first US cannery, and in the shadow of the "Poison Squad" concerns. Margot Baxter Herriman, the heiress to (fictional) B&H Foods, founded by her grandparents, is highly competent but limited by societal expectations of women in business. The suspicious death of her father's long-time personal assistant, found in the B&H accountant's office with a half-written confessional note about "a situation at B&H. People got sick. Some died" spurs Margot to partner with budding private investigator Loretta (Rett) Mancini to find and expose the truth. Avoiding spoilers, the resolution both is and isn't what one might suppose at the outset.

Margot's character is relatable and her personal development through her relationships with other women is believable. The dialogue and scene descriptions are suggest a TV series screenplay--one can imagine the sounds of the metalworks, the rain on the Cadillac's roof as she ponders next steps. Third-person narration shifts between Margot's and Rett's perspectives keeps the story fresh, and lets us learn more about the characters with a light touch throughout the book. I also appreciated the sensitive and normalized presentation of LGBT relationships.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC in return for honest feedback.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Net Galley and St.Martins press for access to this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
This was so such a good cozy mystery. Set in the early 1900s it really touched on problems that women faced in leadership positions at the time. I enjoyed learning more about that aspect as well as following the mystery it reminded me of a good Agatha Christie novel, very engaging and kept me on my toes throughout. Would definitely recommend.

Set near the turn of the century, which not that many books are, was interesting in and of itself. The main character, Margot, is a strong woman, left in charge of the family business after her father passes away. Several unsavory things happen which cause her to hire a detective, also a woman, to help solve. They share the case, each turning up pieces of the puzzle. Cathy Pegau's descriptions make you feel as if you are actually bouncing along the rugged New York City streets in an open air car with only a windscreen and goggles as protection. There are romantic encounters, which bring another dimension to the story.

I think the title suits the book well and I love the cover too.

3.5 as I felt not all the characters were as well developed as they could have been

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for my ARC in exchange for my feedback.

A Murderous Business was a really fun mystery to read. It’s set in 1912 in New York, and the setting is so beautifully vivid you feel you can touch it. There was obvious dedication to historical accuracy, and it made the world thoroughly encompassing. The attention to detail also made the detective work all that much more impressive. It also had great pacing, keeping the investigation realistic and thrilling at the same time with enough twists and turns to keep you constantly guessing without becoming confusing or disorienting.

What I enjoyed the most were the characters. They were realistic and very loveable. Most of the main characters are LGBTQIA+, and they’re wonderful representation of the community in a time where they could not live openly. In the end, I was wishing the book was longer, with more time to explore these characters’ relationships and lives. Even if it had slowed down the narrative, I would have loved more glimpses into their day-to-day habits and behavior without an ongoing crisis.

This is the first title I’ve read from Cathy Pegau, but I will definitely be seeking out more after this. She’s released a number of other novels before this in a variety of settings and genres, so that gives me a whole list of titles to add to my TBR! I recommend grabbing this one when it’s available September 16th, and you can pre-order now to make sure you get your hands on a copy.

Set in 1912, just after the Titanic tragedy, this historical fiction/mystery combines intrigue with empowering female characters.

Margot Harriman inherits her late father’s canning business, but when his retired assistant is found dead, she uncovers a trail of secrets and shady dealings. As a woman in a male-dominated world, Margot faces societal barriers but is determined to keep the business running.

The plot isn’t complex, and the characters are charming, with a tender, forbidden lesbian romance that adds depth while highlighting the struggles of LGBTQ individuals in that era. Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this quick, refreshing read—LGBTQ readers and allies alike will appreciate the mix of mystery, empowerment, and love.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This mystery was great! What a wonderful thing to see queer representation in historical fiction. The characters were unique and the mystery was well thought out.

This is a new historical whodunit series that centers around Margot and Rett in the time period around the sinking of the Titanic, when women were property, basically. This is thankfully not the situation for Margot, who has recently ascended to head a thriving company, albeit only because her father died, and she fought hard to earn her position. Something rotten in the business prompts Margot to investigate, with the help of a rookie investigator (also running her father's business) and a couple of other friends/colleagues. Margot is gay and that is part of the story, very matter-of-factly, so another unconventional enhancement that would certainly be hidden in those days. I found the plot interesting and the characters admirable and spirited. I'd definitely read the next in the series to find out how these ladies evolve and grow.

A Murderous Business is the first of Cathy Pegau’s books I have read, and apparently the first in a new historical whodunit series featuring Harriman and Mancini. The former being Margot Harriman, heiress to a New York cannery fortune and enterprise (of which she has become the CEO upon her father’s death); the latter, Loretta Mancini, current receptionist and aspiring detective at her fast-fading father’s PI business. Margot and Rett also happen to be gay—about which they and their author are quite matter of fact (as they are about Margot being a young woman CEO in 1912). That alone is all quite refreshing. The two are brought together when Margot runs into a spot of trouble in her company, stumbling upon the body of a devoted long-time employee—and upon her first inclination that something untoward has been going on in her business. The scheme ends up being a little convoluted, but the point is, Margot and Rett ultimately get to the bottom of it and set the stage for more adventures

Good thing I had an afternoon off because I wound up reading this book in one sitting. I love historical mysteries where women need to overcome obstacles in a man’s world and this book doesn’t disappoint. The characters are interesting and well developed and the mystery is complex with good twists. Much like a good television pilot, this book sets a solid stage for a continuing series.

Plot: The book is set in 1912. Margaret Baxter Harriman is the CEO and heiress that inherited a company after he fathers death. She finds her fathers former assistant dead in the office, holding a note which implicates the company in some sort of wrongdoing. And, she sets her mind to investigating what happened. So, she hires a private investigator, which turns out to be a young woman in place of her father. From there she and Rhett investigate the strange circumstances and what her company has been involved in.

The good: I LOVE LOVE LOVE the time period, which is set shortly after the sinking of the Titanic. I love the period and the references to women being inferior, even just in the casual mentions of trying to run her company without the influence of a man. I love the fact that ALL of the major characters in this book are strong females, even though the book is set in 1912! I love how strong and independent and confident Ms. Harriman is and how good at investigating Rhett is. I also really loved the references, small as they may be, of the differences between 1912 and today. The references to transportation, money, entertainment were period specific and the perfect side note to the investigation.

The bad: I would not say bad exactly, but things that made it hard for me. First, the pace of the book. As with most period books, the pace is slow and consistent throughout. I know this can be hard for some reading the book, because it is not action packed. But, for me it was a peaceful read. Except, the ending felt rushed. The entire climax of the book and ending took place in the last 30 pages. That was a disappointment for me. And, the other sticking point I had was in the romantic relationships. WHY are there so many books like this that I keep picking up??? I felt there was no real purpose in either of the relationships, just as filler perhaps. But, also I felt the book would have been better without the romantic entanglements or even just limiting it to one.

Overall: I really, truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those that enjoy a detective type with a slow build and all female cast, especially if you enjoy books from other time periods.

This is what I would call a "beach read" - nothing too heavy and yet enjoyable.

Margo (shocker - a woman!) has taken over B&H Foods after her dad died. She's got an uphill battle because it's the early 20th century and women are not supposed to be the head of a business - nor should they actually work for one.

The action starts immediately when Margo finds a former employee sitting in an office chair - dead - with a mysterious note about some sort of mismanagement? misdeeds? at B&H. That's when Margo hires Rett to help turn up the wrong doings.

I thought I knew the perpetrator fairly quickly - and I was partly right. But the thrust of the book is how to tie all of these "greedy" people together when there seems to be no ties among them.

A right fun book - keeps your interest even though it's a "beach read".

This was a great mystery. Loved How Cathy Pegau had females as the main characters being in charge of a company during the historical times when females should stay at home an take care of the family. The storyline was very interesting and made it for an easy read but yet kept you into the story trying to solve the mystery.
Private detective Rett never gave up in helping Margot find out what was going on with the family business.

I want to thank NetGalley and publisher Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this new book – the first in a series with characters Margot Harriman and Loretta (Rett) Mancini.

The timeframe is 1912 when women were expected to have hobbies and be home – not the board room. Margot is the head of a canned vegetable company, B&H Foods, having taken over from her father when he passed away. It suddenly because clear to Margot that something is amiss. She’s getting threatening notes and fears she will lose everything. Someone doesn’t want them to solve the mystery and save the company.

Margot brings in Loretta to help her figure out what’s going on before it’s too late. The two make a great investigative team. The primary female characters in the book are strong, independent women who are not used to simply standing by and letting men tell them what to do. I enjoyed their tenacity and supportive behavior towards one another. The mystery unfolded nicely and kept the reader guessing.

Overall it was a nice, if simplistic, book. The plot isn’t complex and the characters are charming. For fans of cosy mysteries, you will enjoy.

I loved this historical mystery. When Margot Harriman finds her father's former assistant for her family's business dead in her office with a note addressed to Margot she hires Rett Mancini to investigate. This sets both women on an unexpected course full of danger and unexpected twists and turns. I enjoyed this story since the historical setting give an insight into what New York City was like in the past and what roles women were expected to fill and how they carved out spaces for themselves despite the limitations of the times.