Overview

In Gilded Age New York, heiress Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter investigate crimes that take them from the slums of Five Points in lower Manhattan to the Fifth Avenue mansions of society’s elite. In the late nineteenth century, women are particularly vulnerable . . .

LET THE DEAD KEEP THEIR SECRETS

Childbirth can be dangerous even for the wealthy. So when opera singer Claire Buchanan shows Prudence and Geoffrey a postmortem cabinet photograph of her deceased twin sister and newborn niece, they express sadness but not surprise. The popular black-bordered portraits are the era’s way of coping with the devastating losses that plague every family. What makes this death different is that Claire is convinced Catherine and her child were murdered.

Prudence’s friend is haunted by a sense of her sister’s lingering presence, and by the conviction that her dead twin is demanding justice. Catherine’s widower, Aaron Sorensen, is a cold, controlling man who swiftly remarried. Now his second wife is already pregnant and may be in terrible danger. In order to discover the truth and find evidence of Sorensen’s guilt, Geoffrey will delve deep into his past while Prudence casts herself as his next victim—putting her own life at grave risk .

Review

Prudence and Geoffrey are asked to investigate a possible murder of a mother and child. Very difficult to do in this time period. But, with the help of a postmortem photograph (yes this really was a thing to do!) they are hot on the murderer’s tail!

I have not read any of the other books in this series. This is a stand alone novel with just a few references to the previous books. The only thing, I would like to know more of Prudence’s past so, I must go back and read up! She is one interesting lady. She lets nothing stop her. I enjoy a tough woman and Prudence is definitely ALL THAT!

I am fascinated by all the deductions this group of investigators have to make. There is no modern day techniques and this crew really has to use their brains. This reads like a Sherlock Holmes tale. And the postmortem photo! Wow! Did not know people actually hired a photographer to take pictures of the dead, IN POSES!

As I said, this story reads like a Sherlock Holmes tale, which means it is a little slow in places. It is more deduction than action. But, I was enthralled with all the speculation and historical references.

I received this novel from Kinsington via Netgalley for a honest review

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