In a historical mystery for Downton Abbey fans, a society reporter covers a killer party in Gilded Age Newport.
Newport, Rhode Island, August 1895: She may be a less well-heeled relation, but as second cousin to millionaire patriarch Cornelius Vanderbilt, twenty-one-year-old Emma Cross is on the guest list for a grand ball at the Breakers, the Vanderbilts’ summer home. She also has a job to … summer home. She also has a job to do—report on the event for the society page of the Newport Observer.
But Emma observes much more than glitz and gaiety when she witnesses a murder. The victim is Cornelius Vanderbilt’s financial secretary, who plunges off a balcony faster than falling stock prices. Emma’s black sheep brother Brady is found in Cornelius’s bedroom passed out next to a bottle of bourbon and stolen plans for a new railroad line. Brady has barely come to before the police have arrested him for the murder. But Emma is sure someone is trying to railroad her brother and resolves to find the real killer at any cost . . .
“Sorry to see the conclusion of Downton Abbey? Well, here is a morsel to get you through a long afternoon. Brew some Earl Grey and settle down with a scone with this one.” —Washington Independent Review of Books
“Emma’s ebullience and the glittering details of Newport’s gilded age past give the novel a brisk energy.” —Publishers Weekly
“A great effort with intriguing characters and a solid murder mystery . . . Maxwell has written a delightfully complex tale.” —RT Book Reviews
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This series has a great combination of fictional characters who seem real mixed with actual people from history and they’re involved with mysteries that are a bit whimsical and leave you questioning who did it until the end.
Excellent series!
This series is an outstanding historical mystery set. Research certainly made this book and all others in this series spectacular reading! Such history and creativeness in the mansions of Newport!
It was very easy to read. I usually enjoy simple mysteries when I’m looking for a quick, engaging read that doesn’t take much thought. This fit that description, but was too obvious and the protagonist was way to naive. It’s a glimpse into society at that point and interesting points about the Vanderbilts, but, I found the protagonist Emma to not …
I enjoyed being transported to another time. A wonderful combination of true history and fiction.
I read Nancy Drew mysteries as a child, and this reminds me of those stories. I truly did not know “who dunnit” until I was about 75% through the book.
Some of the characters are based on real people. I live in Rhode island and the settings are all real. I found it fascinating!
My wife and I love this series by Alyssa and wait patiently for each installment. Her knowledge of Newport during the Guilded Era helps the reader immerse themselves into the book and enjoy the time period, the romance, and especially the mystery.
Really had a difficult time getting into this. Finally gave up about 1/3 of the way through. Sorry.
I liked the setting
This is the first installment in Ms. Maxwell’s Gilded Newport Mystery series. It is an enjoyable and entertaining book. The murder mystery centers on the wealthy Gilded Age folks who summered at Newport Rhode Island during the late 1800s and early 1900s. As you can tell from the title the murder occurs at the Vanderbilt summer mansion, …
Love all the series!
Alyssa Maxwell’s debut novel, Murder at the Breakers, is rich in it’s historic details and transported me instantly to a time and place where the royalty of America in the late 19th century summered in luxury. The story not only captures the glories, the pitfalls and the complexity of Newport high society during the Gilded Age but delivers a …
Loved the insider view of fictional and real people
I read this because we had just toured the Breakers. Sorry I can’t remember much of what I read.
Toured the mansion last summer. Writer was true to the layout. Really felt like I was there
very good