It is November of 1880, and the future looks promising for Annie and Nate Dawson. Nate’s law practice is taking off. Annie has made the transition from pretend clairvoyant to a successful financial consultant, and as a couple, they are looking forward to spending their first Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays together.For Robert Livingston, the owner San Francisco’s newest grand emporium, the … emporium, the holidays are shaping up to be a dismal failure if he can’t figure out how to stop whoever is stealing from his department store, the Silver Strike Bazaar. When he hires the Dawsons to investigate, Annie and Nate discover that behind the doors of Livingston’s “Palace of Plenty,” nothing is quite what it seems.
Pilfered Promises, by USA Today bestselling author, M. Louisa Locke, is the fifth full-length historical mystery in the cozy Victorian San Francisco mystery series featuring Annie and Nate Dawson and their friends and family in the O’Farrell Street boarding house. Locke’s shorter works, found in Victorian San Francisco Stories and Victorian San Francisco Novellas, feature minor characters from the series.
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This book kept me turning the pages even late into the night!!
I llike reading tbid author. the characters are well done and the history of the era is not what ususlly is written.
I like this series. As a historical romance and mystery buff, it is both entertaining and informative.
Nice light read
Such a fun way to learn about life in the Victorian times.
I enjoy how relatable all the characters are in the story.
Great piece of historical fiction and a mystery, too! Excellent character building and description—made me feel like I was right there!
I have enjoyed all of the books in this series! The author writes a great mystery with interesting characters. She adds a lot of history to it so you have a good idea of what life was like then. The plot takes twists and turns as you try to figure out who did it! I highly recommend this book.
I think this is the best in this great series. Can’t wait for the next…
She wrote.another using the same format. Loved it. Learned even more about life of the Victorian era.
I enjoy this series.
This is the fifth book in the series, and I have not tired of Nate and Annie. I particularly like Annie’s emancipated ways. She is an educated woman who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. These Victorian mysteries are charming books and cozy reads. Without profanity, sex, or violence, the characters share loving warmth while working diligently to help others.
I’ve read several of these novels and enjoy the characters..
A very good read. A lot of great characters and a enjoyable setting.
Great Victorian mystery, circa 1880, set I. San Francisco.
I enjoyed Pilfered Promises, but I seldom detail plots, as they are always described in the advertising. So, I will just tell you my thoughts on these novels. I have liked all the stories–both novels and novellas–by M. Louisa Locke, although I think I may have missed one along the way. She appears to have her San Francisco history down pat, her characters, for the most part, stay true to the Victorian standards of conduct and interaction between the classes. When they do depart from the norm there is a believable excuse offered. All of the returning characters are progressing and evolving, which is good to see. They are also likable, so I enjoy spending time with them. In fact, the books are more character driven than plot driven. My only complaint is that it felt like the many domestic and historic lectures were more interesting to the author than was the mystery plot. If I was not a bit of a history buff I would not have enjoyed this book. Maybe the author is aiming these tales at those of us who care more about how a huge Thanksgiving dinner was prepared and presented in 1880 than about who is stealing from Annie’s client. In that case, she succeeds admirably. I recommend Pilfered Promises to those who like their mysteries heavily wrapped up in historic detail and their heroes and heroines with high moral and social values. I will continue to read Ms. Locke’s books.
Love this author.
Love being able to visualize the department stores as they would have looked in the 1800’s/ The story line was fast paced and interesting to realize how many sta
irs people had to climb in an average day. In sight on how hard people in service had to work for very little pay.
This book is interesting to me because of the historical references. The story itself was to me just average. While I enjoyed reading it, it was not a page-turner and I found it to be a rather slow read.
I think at times there were too many details and made the book drag. That said I did enjoy the change in time period