Publishers Weekly
07/25/2022
At the start of Maxwell’s clever Gilded Newport mystery (after 2021’s Murder at Wakehurst), intrepid reporter Emma Cross and her fiancé, Derrick Andrews, arrive one summer day in 1900 for dinner at yachtsman Edwin Morgan’s Beacon Rock estate. While Derrick was born into this privileged world, Emma, though a distant cousin of the Vanderbilts, is aware that she “dangled from the nether regions of the family tree” and feels ill at ease. To escape the constant talk about the upcoming America’s Cup races, she steps out for a breath of air and makes her way down to the pier. There, she discovers the lifeless body of a young woman floating in the water. As always, the wealthy close ranks when the police come to call, and it’s up to Emma to investigate not only the original murder but those that follow. Series fans will be pleased that Emma and Derrick officially announce their intention to marry, leaving Emma to ponder how she will navigate the tedious and at times dangerous world of high society. Readers will look forward to the further adventures of Emma, who astutely illuminates the habits and mores of her day. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Alyssa Maxwell’s Gilded Newport Mystery Series
“Lifestyles of the wealthy combine with social commentary in a mystery set against the backdrop of Newport’s grand estates.” —Kirkus Reviews on Murder at Wakehurst
“This fantastic series continues with another installment, and plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings…[A] gripping and clever mystery about a sleuth who inhabits two worlds at once, and it will transport you to a time of luxury, greed, and the quest for power.” —Historical Novel Society on Murder at Wakehurst
“Excellent… Maxwell combines convincing character development and vivid depictions of Newport’s heyday with a well‑plotted mystery. This historical series just keeps getting better.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW for Murder at Kingscote
“In this delightful addition to the series, which would serve as a good introduction to newcomers, Maxwell’s focus on class and gender division is sharp and accomplished. Come for the late 19th‑century historical detail; stay for the intrigue.” —Library Journal on Murder at Kingscote
“A charming addition to the Gilded Age series that’s laced with social and historical commentary.” —Kirkus Reviews on Murder at Kingscote
“Two shocking murders occur at Kingscote, amid many plot twists, fascinating historical details (a parade of flower‑decked horseless carriages, a sterling silver box of chocolates, a boxing match), and a plentiful supply of adjectives, making this latest mystery in the series—based on historical, peculiar, but non‑homicidal, events—as lightly entertaining as its gilded predecessors.” —Historical Novel Society on Murder at Kingscote
“The sense of place and history is palpable and the inclusion of historical figures and the intricate crimes make this a very entertaining, worthwhile series.” —The New York Public Library on the Gilded Newport Mystery series
“Numerous plot twists, a richly described 1898 setting, details of the lives and times of the rich, and a principled, smart main character who is making her own way in the world distinguish this entry in the series. It will appeal to those who enjoy historical mysteries with strong, ahead‑of‑their‑times female characters.” —Booklist on Murder at Crossways
“Alyssa Maxwell entertains readers once again…a light, summer‑time read perfect for the beach.” —Newport This Week on Murder at Crossways
“The setting and historical details are vibrant and colorful, especially real‑life figure Mamie Fish—a grand dame inevery sense of the phrase—and the glittering fashions and homes of the Newport rich. The Harvest Festival itself is more than worth the price of admission.” —Criminal Element on Murder at Crossways
“A sweet, delightful mystery, which is sure to appeal to historical‑fiction and mystery readers alike.” —Foreword Reviews on A Pinch of Poison
“The characters are fun, the dialogue is both charming and intelligent, but the scenery that makes up that extravagant time period in New England really is the gem in these glorious tales.” —Suspense Magazine on Murder at Rough Point
“Several cuts above the usual feisty heroine tale; it provides a good picture of life among the privileged—and not‑so‑privileged—classes in Gilded Newport.” —San Jose Mercury News on Murder at Beechwood
“It’s such fun to get lost in another era…Plenty of twists to keep me guessing!” —First for Women on Murder at the Breakers
Kirkus Reviews
2022-06-08
A peek inside the lives of the rich, famous, and dead in Newport’s Gilded Age.
Newspaper reporter Emma Cross, who grew up in Newport, has an in with the wealthy crowd since she’s related to the Vanderbilts and engaged to well-connected Derrick Andrews. The couple has been invited to a small party at Beacon Rock, Edwin Morgan's estate, because of Derrick’s support for yacht racing. Though Emma is very different from the spoiled ladies of the Four Hundred, she can hold her own. When she hears a strange noise while on a stroll after dinner with Lucy Carnegie, the only female member of the New York Yacht Club, they discover the body of a dead woman floating near the dock. Thus begins an investigation that the wealthy yachting families would love to see buried along with the body, which is finally identified as that of Lillian Fahey by a picture she carried with the inscription “To Wally Darling, from L” and a ring with two initials. Emma, who has a long history of crime-solving, works well with her childhood friend Jesse Whyte but not so much with resentful homicide investigator Gifford Myers, who is perhaps too subservient to the wealthy families who support the local economy. As she learns more about the clever and independent Lillian, whose father’s designs make him a force in the yachting world, she becomes convinced that Lillian didn’t commit suicide and starts looking for motives for murder.
A middling mystery deftly contextualized by the backdrop of the still-standing Newport “cottages” of the period.
