“P.B. Ryan makes a stunning debut with Still Life with Murder, bringing Nineteenth Century Boston alive, from its teeming slums to the mansions on Boston Common, and populating it with a vivid and memorable cast of characters. The fascinating heroine, Nell Sweeney, immediately engages the reader and I couldn’t put the book down until I discovered the truth along with her. I can’t wait for the … next installment.”
—Bestselling author Victoria Thompson
Boston, 1868: The dawn of the Gilded Age, an era of burgeoning commerce and invention, of unimaginable new fortunes and lavish excess—for some. Born into dismal poverty, young Nell Sweeney scratches by on her wits and little else until fortune blesses her with a position as nursery governess to the fabulously wealthy Hewitts. But she soon learns that ugly secrets lurk beneath the surface of their gold-plated world.
The Hewitts’ eldest son, William, a former Union Army battle surgeon and the black sheep of the family, was reported to have died three years before in a notorious Confederate prison camp. But one snowy February afternoon, his parents learn that he is, in fact, still alive—and in jail for having murdered a man while intoxicated on opium. Infuriated by his son’s deception and convinced of his guilt, August Hewitt forbids his wife from coming to Will’s aid, so she begs Nell to help exonerate him. Nell finds that she must delve into the kind of dark and treacherous underworld she thought she’d left far behind if she is to unearth the truth before the hangman’s noose tightens around William Hewitt’s throat.
Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime
“What a thoroughly charming book! A beautiful combination of entertaining characters, minute historical research, and a powerful evocation of time and place. I’m very glad there will be more to come.”
—New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly
“P.B. Ryan captures an authentic flavor of post-Civil War Boston as she explores that city’s dark underbelly and the lingering after-effects of the war. The atmosphere is that of The Alienist, but feisty Irish nursemaid Nell Sweeney is a more likable protagonist. I look forward to seeing her in action again.”
—New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen
“Still Life with Murder is a skillfully written story of intrigue and murder set during Boston’s famous Gilded Age. Nell Sweeney, governess and part-time nurse, is a winning heroine gifted with common sense, grit, and an underlying poignancy. With its rich sense of place and time and a crisp, intelligent plot, readers will speed through this tale and be clamoring for more.”
—Bestselling author Earlene Fowler
“Utterly absorbing. Vividly alive characters in a setting so clearly portrayed that one could step right into it. A very clever plot in which each clue is clearly offered and yet the identity of the murderer is a complete surprise. I look forward to many more books…”
—Bestselling author Roberta Gellis
“If you like fast moving, accurately drawn, historical mysteries, you won’t go wrong by trying Still Life with Murder.”
—Reviewing the Evidence
“This debut mystery is a winner, with a feisty heroine, a colorful historical backdrop and a strong mystery rife with complexities. An ideal blend of history and mystery.”
—RT BookReviews
“Still Life with Murder is sheer perfection… gripping… powerful… unforgettable… You’ll know you’ve read one hell of a story after you turn the last page!”
—Reader to Reader Reviews
About the Author: Patricia Ryan, a.k.a. P.B. Ryan, is the USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including the #1 national bestseller Still Life with Murder. Pat’s books have garnered rave reviews and been published in over twenty countries.
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Great starter tale. Want to read the rest of the series.
LOVED THIS READ OF THIS AUTHOR AND SERIES, I CAN NOT WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ONE INSERIES AND THE NEXT….
Being an art lover, I had high hopes for this novel. It had trouble pulling together all of the characters and inferences. I eventually I got bored and stopped reading it.
I liked it but thought the reasoning for the murder was a little circular and took more time to get to the point than necessary. That said writing is good and the characters intriguing
Good detective story, without the gore and grime.
Really enjoyed this book.
Interesting enough to make me finish reading the book. A little predictable though.
For those who love Marie Dobbs, this mystery takes readers to a different time period and a different nation. Fine mystery.
I liked that many of the characters had good hearts and cared about others, although the story had some realistic and tragic history for the characters. The book was set just after the Civil War. One of the characters was a doctor during the Civil War. He was captured and served time in Andersonville Georgia, a horrible POW camp, well documented …
A fun easy read. I enjoyed it enough that i proceeded to read the other 5 inn the series back to back.
Great story and character development.
Looking for more of this series
I enjoyed this book so far as the story line goes, but I am not much for mysteries.
I truly enjoyed this first book in the series and have started reading the second. Such a surprising ending; left me eager to purchase the next book.
I would recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction books. It was a little slow going but definitely worth the wait. Very well written and interesting story.
Not just a mystery but a complex historical novel with well-developed interesting characters and excellent writing style. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Great historic details about post Civil war Boston. I didn’t care for the ending but the book was delightful.
Great story as we’re all of her series.
The action was good, the characters were very well developed. I particularly liked the historical aspects of Boston in the post civil war era. I will probably read more of P.B. Ryan’s books
Excellent read! Very similar to the present day