Death of a New American by Mariah Fredericks is the atmospheric, compelling follow-up to the stunning debut A Death of No Importance, featuring series character, Jane Prescott. In 1912, as New York reels from the news of the Titanic disaster, ladies’ maid Jane Prescott travels to Long Island with the Benchley family. Their daughter Louise is to marry William Tyler, at their uncle and aunt’s … Tyler, at their uncle and aunt’s mansion; the Tylers are a glamorous, storied couple, their past filled with travel and adventure. Now, Charles Tyler is known for putting down New York’s notorious Italian mafia, the Black Hand, and his wife Alva has settled into domestic life.
As the city visitors adjust to the rhythms of the household, and plan Louise’s upcoming wedding, Jane quickly befriends the Tyler children’s nanny, Sofia–a young Italian-American woman. However, one unusually sultry spring night, Jane is woken by a scream from the nursery–and rushes in to find Sofia murdered, and the carefully locked window flung open.
The Tylers believe that this is an attempted kidnapping of their baby gone wrong; a warning from the criminal underworld to Charles Tyler. But Jane is asked to help with the investigation by her friend, journalist Michael Behan, who knows that she is uniquely placed to see what other tensions may simmer just below the surface in this wealthy, secretive household. Was Sofia’s murder fall-out from the social tensions rife in New York, or could it be a much more personal crime?
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This book is the second installment of the Jane Prescott historical mystery series by Mariah Fredericks. I have not read the first book, but this one totally stood alone. I don’t doubt you will be intrigued and want to check out the first one. I’m a fairly new fan of this genre, and it’s excellent books like this that have made me one. The mystery itself is excellent; however, it is details of the time period such as the sinking of the Titanic and the Women’s Suffrage March in New York in 1912 that send this story to the top of the genre.
Jane Prescott is ladies’ maid to Louise Benchley, who is to be married to William Tyler. William is the nephew of Charles and Alva Tyler, an exciting, celebrated couple. Charles is famous for triumphing over the Italian mafia. At their Long Island home, Jane becomes friends with Sophia, the young Italian nanny to the Tyler children. One night is punctuated by screams, and Sophia is discovered murdered. Was it an attempted kidnapping of the youngest Tyler child? Jane is contacted by her reporter acquaintance, MIchael Behan, for help with his investigation of the story.
I found all of the main characters intriguing, particularly Jane, Michael and Charles. (Exactly what is up with the relationship between Jane and Michael? I need to know more about that! ) Layers of the mystery are revealed, and all is not as it seems. I found most of the book a good solid 4-star story; however, when all was revealed, it definitely grew to 5 stars. Oh, the tears were running down my face! I cannot wait to once again enter the world of Jane Prescott and early 20th Century New York!
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 are entirely my own.
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book. I found it to be an engrossing page turner with an engaging sleuth, an in-depth study of human nature across social lines, and a fearless exploration of Gilded Age New York with its underbelly of crime, poverty, and ruthless politics. Mariah Fredericks writes with stunning vividness and historical authenticity. I read the first book as well, and I’m loving this series!
Jane Prescott is one of those characters you fall in love with quickly and by the end want to spend more time with her. She is brave, a mixture of worldly with a touch of innocence remaining, and navigates the class structure with intelligence and grace. Her own backstory is fascinating. Louise Benchley is the young lady Jane serves as a ladies’ maid. Louise, being married in part for her money, starts as awkward and a push over, but by the end she has come into her own and gains some steel – which I wanted to cheer over.
Michael Behan, a journalist, is a mixed bag. At times he seems unscrupulous to get a story, but at other times seems to want the truth. You might be tempted to think he would be a romantic interest for Jane, who often challenges him and his reporting, but that isn’t likely. Charles Tyler, uncle to the groom and guardian, is the police chief who is waging a war against the rising Italian mafia while also controversially embracing Italian immigrants and hiring several on his staff at work and home. Charles’ wife, Alva Tyler, had been a wild and free spirited society girl more at home on safari – until she had a children and settled down. She is a character you like and yet wonder about simultaneously. Sophia, the victim, was so well portrayed in her few scenes that you stand with Jane wanting to see justice done in her murder.
The rich and privileged Long Island mansion is the setting for most of the story with a few scenes in New York city. All of which take the reader back in time to Little Italy of the city and the era’s gilded glory with its tarnished realities.
Was Sofia letting a mafia hit-man or kidnapper in through an open window and got killed in the process? Because that is the quick conclusion and the plot revolves around Jane seeing major problems with that scenario and searching for answers. There are subplots of Charles Tyler and the Black Hand plus the nation recovering from the Titanic tragedy intermixed with the rampant prejudice against Italians and woman’s suffrage. All of which immerse the reader in the era. Once I had read the first few chapters, I was hooked and I raced through the book.
The killer reveal was tearful and a shock as what happened dawns on you, with an added touch of flirtation with danger. It will stay with me a long time and it was handled brilliantly for maximum effect. The finishing chapter was longer than most wrap-ups, but well worth it.
This book is a gem and I find myself wanting to go back and read the first, A Death of No Importance, in the series while I wait for the third to be published. Even with the serious topics touched on in the book, there is a hilarious scene that sticks with me as much as the emotional killer reveal. The writing style is smooth and flowing. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!
Rating: Near Perfect – Couldn’t put it down. Buy two copies, one for you and one for a friend.
historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-setting, murder, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths
Addicted as I am to well researched historicals, this one really makes the grade!
It certainly seems appropriately researched (I’m geeky about checking such things) in areas related to the story line. The characters are all interesting and engaging even the brainless ones. The sleuthing is fascinating with the sort of plot twists and very red herrings. There are a couple of things that I wish I could address, but that would definitely be in spoiler territory.
Bottom line is that it held me captive and I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
Mariah Fredericks is a terrific writer and her protagonist lady’s maid Jane Prescott is a character to savor. The setting is realistic and the story immediately draws the reader in. I’m off to find the next book in this wonderful series.
The story is told by Jane Prescott, the maid of a wealthy family in New York in 1912. The Titanic has sunk, women are marching for their rights, and there has been a murder at the house where a prominent wedding was to be held.
I really enjoyed the history of the time. It was interesting to see how people reacted to the newspaper articles about the Titanic sinking and how the different newspapers made different headlines out of the same happening. Women were marching looking for more privileges. The immigration of Italians, specifically talked about in this book, was being made to be a negative thing. All of this amazing history was woven into a fiction story so that the reader may not even realize that they are learning all while enjoying a wonderful story.
I did not read the first book in this series and I can honestly say that I missed out on nothing. The characters were easy to figure out and the story was easy to follow. Death of a New American is a great historical fiction mystery. I’d recommend picking up a copy and meeting Jane Prescott and her newspaper friend, Michael Behan.
A story that shows hate for a nationality, murder, wealth, and timestamped by the sinking of the Titanic.
As we journey for answers and they start be revealed, and boy I didn’t see most of it coming.
There are a great many twists and turns here, and be sure to read the epilogue, wow!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin’s Press, and was not required to give a positive review.
3.5/5
While this book was fine, I’m a little ambivalent about it. I almost felt that the murder mystery took backseat to social issues (women’s suffrage, immigrant racism, mental illness, etc.)…important issues but not what I anticipated focusing on. I found the writing a little choppy with abrupt changes in time/place at times. I also found it a bit unbelievable that the main character Jane (a lady’s maid) found herself in such close, personal relationships with her employers…not to mention she seemed to have quite a lot of free time to devote to other things…like amateur sleuthing.
However, I do want to go back and read the first in series…that should help give a deeper understanding of the characters and perhaps I’ll also want to read any future books in the series.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Out 4/9