Cozy little read that was better than expected! Took a few years to find the copy, but worth reading over the span of a long weekend.

Fashion & style reporter Emma Cross is invited to cover a two-week artists’ retreat at the home of one of her wealthy distant Vanderbilt cousins. The artists represent various genres of the arts, dance, theatre, music, painters, and writers, including novelist Edith Wharton. Among the guests are Emma's non-conformist, bohemian parents. Soon the body of one of the artists is found at the bottom of the cliff walk and then a second death places everyone under suspicion. With the police searching for the killer, Emma joins forces with Edith Wharton to find the identity of the murderer. The historical and social history setting of this series is interesting. This is the fourth book in this series, and although I enjoyed the read, I felt it didn't stand up as well as the previous three books.

I really enjoy this series and this one did not disappoint. Emma is sent to write a story about an artist retreat taking place at Rough Point. When the artists start dying she sets out to solve the crimes. As a storm rages outside and traps them inside they know one of them is killer. I really enjoy the setting and the characters. The addition of Edith Wharton as a sidekick was a lot of fun. The mystery was good and there were a few twists and turns. Enjoy the Gilded Age visit to Newport.

The formatting of this book (for Kindle) made it unreadable. A Shame because the story sounded intriguing. I might try it from the library at some point.

If you love historical mysteries with a one of a kind setting then look no further! The author has definitely lots of research to get many details in her book centered around the time period, characters, and setting. I was kept guessing until the very end!

I hesitated to review this novel earlier because I did not want to give negative feedback. This novel did not appeal to me; however, I feel others might enjoy the book.

"In glittering Newport, Rhode Island, at the close of the nineteenth century, status is everything. But despite being a poorer relation to the venerable Vanderbilts, Emma Cross has shaped her own identity—as a reporter and a sleuth.

Fancies and Fashion reporter Emma Cross is sent by the Newport Observer to cover an elite house party at Rough Point, the “cottage” owned by her distant cousin Frederick Vanderbilt, which has been rented as a retreat for artists. To her surprise, the illustrious guests include her estranged Bohemian parents—recently returned from Europe—as well as a variety of notable artists, including author Edith Wharton.

But when one of the artists—an English baronet—is discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff, Rough Point becomes anything but a house of mirth. After a second guest is found murdered, no one is above suspicion—including Emma’s parents.

Even as Newport police detective Jesse Whyte searches for a killer in their midst, Emma tries to draw her own conclusions—with the help of Mrs. Wharton. But with so many sketchy suspects, she’ll need to canvas the crime scenes carefully, before the cunning culprit takes her out of the picture next…"

Just everything and Edith Wharton too!

Could have used some editing for typos and to eliminate modern terminology that was very glaring and jolted one out of 1896 Newport,

Alyssa Maxwell, popular author of several historical mysteries, also writes a series of mysteries that take place in Newport, Rhode Island, The Gilded Newport Mystery Series. In the fourth installment, Murder at Rough Point, a poor relation of the famous Vanderbilts, Emma Cross, who is a noted sleuth and reporter, is invited to attend and report on a gathering of artists at her Uncle Frederick Vanderbilt’s cottage. Emma becomes friends with Edith Wharton at that gathering, and is upset that her estranged parents are also guests. When one of the artists is found murdered, no one is above suspicion, and as Emma investigates, many of the clues point to her parents as conspirators and murderers.

Maxwell is an excellent writer, and uses historical facts as a backdrop to this mystery. She also uses famous real people, i.e., author Edith Wharton, as characters. This makes the fictitious characters seem more real. Emma is a likeable character, and readers will definitely be able to relate, since she is not wealthy, but is beloved by her Uncle Frederick who is a Vanderbilt, and who is wealthy, and is a respected member of the community.

An interesting aspect of the novel is Emma’s relationship with her parents. It makes her very uncomfortable to be around them, especially since it is so out of character for them to show affection for her.

There is building suspense throughout the novel, especially since it is almost impossible for the guests to leave due to weather problems, and it is obvious that one of the guests, who is also not able to leave, is the murderer; it is expected that another murder could take place at anytime, and the guests are almost panicking over worry about being the next victim.

Readers who enjoy light mysteries with a factual historical background, will definitely enjoy this novel, and also the entire series. It’s nice to read a clean novel – absent of graphic sex, violence, and profanity - with suspense and a good story. This is recommended for readers of all ages.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

2.5 stars for Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell.

This cosy murder mystery is set in Newport around a branch of the Vanderbilt family. I enjoy books set in this area and am a fan of the cosy, but this one seems to be lacking that certain something that keeps you engrossed. I found it quite easy to put this book down and be distracted by other more absorbing reads.

This is one of those rare reads that, to me, would make a better movie than it does a book.

Thank you to Kensington Publishers via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I like the setting for the story; I love the architectural era more than the movers and shakers. The story line, rife with the unlikable, has been used often enough by authors with whose work I am very familiar, to be too familiar for me. While the book is not my cup of tea, I can see that it would be a good read for many others

It lacked the formula of the other books to me but it was still a good read. I did enjoy the backdrop of the story the murder was easy enough to solve but I did enjoy the secondary characters ans seeing how the other side lives