Murder at Wakehurst

Alyssa Maxwell

Aug 2021 · A Gilded Newport Mystery Book 9 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries…

For fans of Rhys Bowen comes the new mystery from acclaimed author Alyssa Maxwell, as she takes readers to the turn of the century mansions of famed Newport, Rhode Island . . . where not all is always golden and murder turns a successful reporter into a part-time amateur investigator . . .

Following the death of her uncle, Cornelius Vanderbilt, in September 1899, a somber Emma is in no mood for one of Newport’s extravagant parties. But to keep Vanderbilt’s reckless son Neily out of trouble, she agrees to accompany him to an Elizabethan fête on the lavish grounds of Wakehurst, the Ochre Point “cottage” modeled after an English palace, owned by Anglophile James Van Alen.
 
The festivities include a swordplay demonstration, an archery competition, scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, and even a joust. As Emma wanders the grounds, she overhears a fierce argument between a man and a woman behind a tall hedge. As the joust begins, she’s drawn by the barking of Van Alen’s dogs and finds a man on the ground, an arrow through his chest. The victim is one of the 400’s most influential members, Judge Clayton Schuyler. With the help of her beau Derrick Andrews and Detective Jesse Whyte, Emma begins to learn the judge was not the straight arrow he appeared to be. As their investigation leads them in ever-widening circles, Emma will have to stop the killer from taking another life . . .
 
“Lifestyles of the wealthy combine with social commentary in a mystery set against the backdrop of Newport’s grand estates.” —Kirkus Reviews



 

Ratings and reviews

Gilded Age Mystery Amongst the High Class This book is a wonderful mystery that takes place in the opulent richness of the titans of industry in the late 1890s. The tale includes the vast difference between the 'common man' and 'The 400' that made up the upper class of the eastern seaboard at that time. The elite treated everyone else very poorly and the trade unions were making themselves known. It makes a wonderful setting for a mystery. This book is the 9th in a series of good mysteries. If you are a new reader of the series, it is obvious that you have missed much of the growth of the characters. The author tries to mitigate that, but it just made me realize how much I missed. I may need to go back and read the first books in the series. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

cozy-mystery, 1890s, law-enforcement, journalist, family-dynamics, friendship, amateur-sleuth, murder, murder-investigation, class-consciousness, historical-research***** Emma is not exactly having a good week. Her boyfriend/newspaper owner has been called into the city by his disapproving family, *Uncle* Cornelius Vanderbilt has died (but he did leave her *a bit* of an inheritance to keep the bill collectors at bay. The worst of it is having to go to a dressy fete to keep watch on her disgraced cousin and winding up finding the body of another prominent gentleman. A finding that the intelligent law officer has been taken from the case and a condescending whatsit is in charge. Let the sleuthing begin! There are exquisite descriptions of both attire and surroundings, plus exhaustive descriptions of the lineage and implications of financial heredity as well as the general snobbery of the era. The mystery is well done and the characters are both interesting and believable. A very good read. I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley.

About the author

Alyssa Maxwell knew from an early age that she wanted to be a novelist. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles of all kinds drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband reside in Florida, where she loves to watch BBC productions, sip tea in the afternoons, and delve into the past. You can learn more about Alyssa and her books at alyssamaxwell.com.