Smoke and Mirrors

Thoroughly enjoyable story. I hope we meet these characters again and continue their story.

Smoke and Mirrors (A Miss Barnum Mystery) is filled with adventure in New York City 1842. Evie Barnum is the sister to Phineas T. Barnum and helps run his museum of exhibits unusual in nature. Through the entire story a close bond is evident between Evie and Phin. When an old friend appears to elicit aid from Evie; she shuns him only to feel guilt later when he is murdered! Events unfold as Miss Barnum uses her intellect to track down his murderer only to find herself in mortal danger. Her trail leads her into the seedier side of the city and the encounter of numerous colorful characters. Will not say that this ends with a cliffhanger but enough loose ends are left to crave another installment for a tidy conclusion. Loved the title of Smoke covering the present while mirrors reflecting the past. "A copy of this book was provided to me by Severn House Publishers and author via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read and my comments here are my honest opinion."

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for a review copy of Smoke and Mirrors, the first novel in a projected series to feature the fictional sister, Evangeline, of the great P. T. Barnum.

New York 1842 and Evangeline Barnum is working at her brother's American Museum when she bumps into an old friend, Andrew Emerson, from her home town of Bethel, Connecticut. He is looking for help but Evie has secrets she wants to keep hidden and won't entertain him. Later that day she finds his dead body and feeling guilty about not helping him she vows to investigate and in doing so discovers much more than a murderer.

I thoroughly enjoyed Smoke and Mirrors whose melodramatic plot is very much in keeping with the setting and offers many twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages. Apart from the murder it is a bit slow to get going but it soon picks up speed and fairly rattles along to a satisfying conclusion.

Evie is a great character if a little modern for her times. She works, has a scandal in her past and is extremely egalitarian in her approach to people - not at all the done thing in the circles she moves in. She is also smart, fearless, tenacious and extremely likeable. Her adventures are great fun with her running from one danger to another.

I don't know enough about the era to make a strong judgement but while Ms Daniels give plenty of geographical and historical information I have the feeling that she hasn't pulled off the censorious nature of society at that time although she makes a valiant effort in Evie's sister in law Charity (surely a joke as she is anything but).

Smoke and Mirrors has a well plotted storyline which will hold your attention so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.