Mercury's Rise (Silver Rush Mystery Series #4)

Great historical mystery

In 1880, owner of the Silver Queen Saloon, Inez Stannert takes the coach from Leadville, Colorado to visit her two years old son William and her sister Harmony DuChamps who is watching the infant in Manitou. The ride proves ugly when businessman Edward Pace, traveling with his family, suddenly dies after drinking a medicinal elixir.

Inez is hurt when her child who uses his aunt's surname fails to recognize her. Pace's widow pleads with Inez to investigate her husband's death. Needing to occupy her mind with something other than family, Inez makes inquires into the easterner's abrupt demise. Her investigation leads to where she is staying, the Manitou's Mountain Springs House. However, Inez's personal life intrudes when her missing for eighteen months husband Mark surfaces.

The latest Stannert American Silver Rush historical mystery (see Leaden Skies) is a terrific thriller that focuses on the quacks making a fortune selling cures for tuberculosis. The heroine's family hurts enhances the fullness of the protagonist while the intelligent inquiry into a wrongful death is clever. Ann Parker writes about a slice of unregulated Americana in which let the buyer beware capitalism greedily takes advantage of the desperate.

Harriet Klausner

Quite a good book.

While it took getting into, and felt like it had a slow start, I quite enjoyed this book. The main characters were intriguing and strong. The conflict was interesting, and the resolution satisfying. I would recommend this book for individuals who are looking to get for something different from the same old cozy mystery genre. If you are interested in historical fiction this is your book.

No text was provided for this review.