Alyssa MaxwellRezensionen

Newport, Rhode Island - August, 1895

A murder occurs at a Ball given at The Breakers, the newly built summer cottage of Cornelius Vanderbilt and his wife, Alice. Their niece, Emmaline (Emma) Cross, was a firsthand witness to the demise of the deceased. When Emma’s mischievous brother Brady is accused of the murder she doesn’t believe it so she sets out to prove his innocence. During her own investigative efforts, which the police are none too thrilled about, Emma uncovers deceit, thievery, infidelity and less than admirable business dealings, all of which call various individuals’ reputations into question. There’s good reason why a few of the suspects might have wanted Mr. Goddard dead, but some things are not adding up. Meanwhile, Emma can’t stand to see her brother in jail looking so discouraged and defeated when she knows in her heart that Brady could never commit murder. Alas, blame is shifted to a different possible culprit, but will new details of a revealed secret lead Emma to the proper killer before someone silences her forever and Brady is put away for good?

Since I am familiar with the Vanderbilt family I wanted to read this book. George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore House is America’s largest home and our family has visited the estate in Asheville, NC, several times over the years. It is an impressive sight.

The Breakers in Newport, RI, is the summer residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt ll. I enjoyed this murder mystery that took place in that home. Emma Cross, the amateur sleuth in this entertaining mystery, was not a rich member of the Vanderbilt family. I liked her independent nature and determined spirit. Also of note was the sweet relationship that existed between Emma and her older brother, Brady. Despite his reckless behavior at times resulting in unfavorable predicaments, Emma still loved him and tried everything within her power to help him be exonerated.

I figured out relatively early on who the murderer was but this in no way lessened my enjoyment of the book. Even though I thought I knew who did it, I still didn’t know how or why. Emma’s pursuits brought me into contact with some very interesting characters including servants, as well as the upper crust of society. The red herrings had me second guessing myself, and thus this gilded age mystery gets a big nod of approval. There was even a little romance developing between two of the characters during the investigation. I liked that it was a mild addition to the storyline and didn’t compete with the central focus of the book, the murder mystery.

I was privileged both to read and to listen to Murder at the Breakers thanks to Kensington Books and Tantor Audio. I wish to thank both for the gifted copies. The audiobook narrator, Eva Kaminsky, did an AMAZING job at bringing this book to life. Excellent narration.

It is also my understanding that Hallmark Movies and Mysteries recently aired Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, in case you’d like to check that out. Great job, Alyssa Maxwell.½

In 1901, newlywed Emma Cross Andrews finds herself once again in the position of seeking justice. Coal baron Edward Berwind's luxurious Elms estate is being opened. Immediately, it is plagued by a servant strike. The servants are all fired and new ones hred for a grand party. During the party, a maid is murdered, a guest's diamond necklace vanishes, and a laborer disappears. Detective Jessie Whyte enlists Emma and her husband Derrick's help to unravel the connection between the maid's murder and the missing necklace. As the dark secrets of the mansion threaten to overshadow its grandeur, Emma takes on the task of uncovering the elusive culprit.

I always look forward to seeing where Emma ends up next! She married and went on a honeymoon to Italy between this book and the last book. Now she must learn to balance her work life with being married. Her husband wants her to be more careful in seeking criminals, though he does respect her independence.

I have not heard of the Elms before, so I was intrigued to learn more. The descriptions didn’t give me a vivid description so I had to look up pictures. The other historical details, the time period and clothing, made the story come alive. I was kept guessing as to the culprit for this one, which is always fun.

This series is one I definitely recommend to readers who enjoy historical mysteries and this book is no different. I received an advance copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.½

Alyssa Maxwell has brought us back to Newport, Rhode Island in 1901 to explore another one of the gilded age’s success stories. Edward Berwind and his wife were fabulously wealthy and known to be heavy handed with their staff. With dissent comes dismissal and murder and scandal which provides Emma Cross and her husband with a new case to investigate.

Described as an installment in Maxwell’s “cozy historical mystery series” I can’t help thinking there is cozy and then there is well researched, informative, and challenging puzzles to be solved. Nothing is completely clear nor simple which is what makes Maxwell’s mysteries so enjoyable. She doesn’t pander to her readers - she expects them to become informed and involved which is a problem because once started her books are hard to put down. Yeah, I am a fan and I loved this book. I learned more about The Elms and the Berwinds from Alyssa Maxwell than I did from the tour I took of the Mansion years ago.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

Another good book in this series. Emma and Derrick are back in Newport from their honeymoon and are invited to a house party at the newly built Elms. However, before the party, the servants declare that they will strike for a little time off and better working conditions. All are fired except the one housemaid who refused to participate in the strike. On the night of the party everyone is enjoying a musical when there's a scream and a murder is discovered of the maid who was the dissenter. Police are called and an investigation is started. Lots of threads to tie together and Emma with her society connections is asked by the police inspector to help. Exciting ending.½

Murder At The Elms is the eleventh book in the A Gilded Newport Mystery series by Alyssa Maxwell.

On the first day back at the Newport Messenger after Emma and Derriclk’s return from their honeymoon, Emma is asked to come to The Elms, the home owned by Herminie and Edward Berwind. Upon arriving at The Elms, Emma is greeted by the home’s staff, where she is told they are going on strike for a weekly day off. Everyone agrees except for one maid, Ines, a Portuguese maid. When Mr. Berwind meets with the servants, he fires them all except for Ines.

A week later, Emma and Derrick receive an invitation to attend a musicale at The Elms. Shortly after the music had finished, a scream was heard, and it was learned that someone was lying dead in the coal tunnel. Emma and Derrick proceed to the coal tunnel, shocked to see that the body is Ines's. The police are called, and Detectives Jesse Whyte and Gifford Myers arrive to begin their investigation. Emma has worked well with Jesse previously, and he asks her and Derrick to talk with the Berwinds and their guests, knowing they will get more information than he would.

Rex, Silvie Morton, Charles, and Kay Gilchrist are the couples vacationing at The Elms. The investigation of the murder will get even more suspicious when it is learned that a precious diamond necklace belonging to Rex Morton goes missing. Emma and Derrick must now investigate whether Ines was involved with the missing necklace and was killed to silence her. There are plenty of suspects to investigate.

The story is well-written, plotted, descriptively told, and historically accurate. Many of the characters have returned in this book. They are all interesting and well-developed. The story moved at a good pace and was for me to put down. Plenty of red herrings should keep most guessing until the end.

Ms. Maxwell also provides an interesting and informative Author’s Note.

I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this exciting series.

Murder at the Elms by Alyssa Maxwell
Story starts out with Emma at the newspaper office in Newport, RI 1901.
She heads out to the Elms for a story she's covering. She finds the workers want to strike to get a day off and not have to work 18 hours a day with only Sunday service as their time off.
She is able to talk to a maid who doesn’t mind the hours and she's Portuguese.
The others talk to the owner and they are fired, but not Annette as she wasn't in the group that wanted more time off.
Emma and her spouse Derrick attend an event there later and find the place well-staffed and she learns they got time off every day-things those who were fired complained about.
I have been to the Elms and have gone through all the rooms they are discussing and find it fascinating as there are some things I didn't learn on our tour. I do recall the downstairs where they take deliveries and the kitchen area...
Fascinating to learn of honey from Portsmouth and coal tracks on Dickson...
Many more murders that are all related and some sketchy characters. Could be anyone there are SO many opportunities.
Love gems found in this one and can't wait to read more from this author of local places to me. Ends with notes from the author about the setting and about tour at the Elms.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books and this is my honest opinion.
#MurderattheElms #NetGalley

What a delightful start to the Newport Mystery series this book was. Although, I have to confess, it was not my first foray into this series having started with the eleventh installment. I enjoyed reading that one so much that I had to go back to the beginning of the series and try and get caught up. I certainly was not disappointed.

This first book in series introduces us to Emmaline Cross, Emma to all her friends, who is a bright and fiercely independent female news reporter. She is a poor cousin to THE Vanderbilts, who make their summer home at the Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island - a sumptuous summer "cottage" - (rather like a grand palace). Emma's been invited up to the Breakers for her cousin Gertrude's coming out party and to see the newly rebuilt summer "cottage". The event is in full swing and Emma steps out onto the lawn for a breath of fresh air at perhaps not the most auspicious moment. She notices movement up on a balcony and suddenly a body is hurled over the railing and lands on the lawn. She runs into the party looking for help and then runs upstairs to make sense of the event. She encounters her half-brother Brady, knocked out cold. He is taken into custody upon discovery as all circumstantial evidence points his way. Emma knows that there is no way he could be a murderer and is committed to getting to the bottom of it.

Ms. Maxwell has deftly crafted a well written and thoroughly engaging story. Her characters are well developed and the settings are spectacular and cinematic in their portrayal. The descriptions of the lavish homes make this reader long for another visit to The Breakers; to revel in the opulence of a bygone era. Emma is the personification of the modern woman. She's related to the Vanderbilts and yet is not a stranger to the working class. She manages well between both worlds and has heart for the working poor.

Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: March 25, 2014
ISBN: 978-0758290823
No. of pages: 304

Murder at Ochre Court (Gilded Newport Mysteries #6) by Alyssa Maxwell
This story is about the event Emma is back in Newport reporting on. a debuatant ball at Ochre Court.
The descriptions of the rooms and gowns are so precise and sparkling with electric lights... The murder occurs right in front of all their eyes.
Jessie and Dale both go to reach for the woman and are electrocuted but are able to break the arc.
Emma has a lot of people to talk to and finds out clues that she collects There are so many components to this story, so exciting.
Lots of discussions of those who fought in the war, the debs fiancée and the contractor who was in charge of the electricity in the mansion...Love hearing about tunnels of Fort Adams, I know family members have visited them, back in the day of 1970s. Emma is staying in Newport now but Derrick heads to Providence to make amends with his father. You wonder if they will ever get together as they are separated so often...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Murder at Chateau Sur Mer (Gilded Newport Mysteries #5) by Alyssa Maxwell
This story starts out with a murder of a prostitute at the bottom of the stairs of a family that is well known in Newport.
Emma gets involved with this murder and is able to frequent the polo fields where the gambling startgs. It's amazing how the murders are all linked together. What a story.
So much of Newp[ort comes out in this book, had to look at up the state parks. Story also follows her intended and she is in dire need of a job.
Love ending where author brings yuu up to date on where the polo fields are now. Spouse lived in the city and knew of the fields and parks mentioned in the book .
Love how the author links the goings on at the polo field and events to the first murder of the prostitute.
Emma's got a quick eye, notices others eyes and where she's seen them in others before....Haven't visited this mansion yet but hope to this fall.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Emma Cross and Derrick Andrews are finally engaged to be married. Emma is a poor relation of the Vanderbilts while Derrick is from a wealthy social prominent family. They are at a dinner party at Beacon Rock, the home of the Morgans, as in JP, and while there Emma and in the company of Lucy Carnegie, discover a young woman's body washed up near the boat house. No one seems to know who she was but a small clue leads Emma and Derrick into dangerous waters to discover her identity and possible motive for her death.

I truly enjoy this series set at the beginning of the 20th century n Newport, each one highlighting one of the mansions of the rich and famous.½

Murder at Rough Point (Gilded Newport Mysteries, #4) by Alyssa Maxwell
This story follows Emma as she's been selected to help the caretaker run the event. The artists will arrive later, some from the theater, painters, actors, and other mediums of the craft.
They each have their own room at Rough Point, a place we've driven by often int he past 30 years.
Love the locations as they are described, fashion, food and jewelry, all so thrilling.
There is a death and then others are wondering how it all happened. The artists are now aging and are not as good at their craft as they used to be....
There is a surprise guest which Emma did not see coming.
Love all the speculation as to who killed the fellow artists. Just when they arrest one Emma has second thoughts... So many twists and turns and a really bad storm that leaves the island roads as mud.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell
In this book we find Emma and she's just so involved in all mysteries that arise. the men had all gone out to go sailing and have a race but two fell in and only one was presumed dead as the body was not found. Love learning all about technical things to do with sailing as others in the family have sailed.
Love hearing all about the most important aspect of the Newport, RI coast, sailing. It's still as strong as back in 1890s were.
The mystery of the baby left at Emma's doorstep is also a puzzle and she asks others to help her find out who the mother is. Such tragic moments and it's amazing how it all comes together. Learned so much more about the town and locations that I am familiar with.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Murder at Wakehurst by Alyssa Maxwell
1899 Emma goes with her cousin and his wife to the event as her uncle had passed away.
The hierarchy comes into play, now that the head of the family is dead, who will really inherit
it all.... She is so surprised she even was mentioned in the will. Her will accompany her cousin and his wife to the party at Wakehurst to keep Neilly in check with his drinking. While at the event Emma wanders off when the hears the dogs barking and she knows what it means.... She does discover a body and she has many clues as to things that transpired that night. SHe is also a bit upset that the regular detective is NOT covering the case. As a reporter she has a lot of information from questioning others who were there... So many twists and turns and a lot of characters are involved in the many mysteries in this book.
Love the elegance of the mansion, one I've yet to visit and all the finery that is detailed so highly I can picture that also. Never saw it ending as such, wow. Love nature and discussion about Sachuest Point where we currently hike today.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

In the latest Gilded Newport Mystery, Emma is adapting to married life but still using her maiden name professionally. She also finds that her marriage to wealthy Derrick Andrews has created a barrier between her and the working-class Newporters she grew up with; this distance is evident when she covers a strike by servants at The Elms, one of the new "cottages" in town. In one of their first social engagements as a married couple, Derrick and Emma attend a musicale at The Elms and have a front-row seat to the theft of a fabulous necklace rumored to have belonged to Marie Antoinette and the death of the only maid who didn't strike. In her typical fashion, Alyssa Maxwell crafts an excellent period mystery with an engaging heroine and many twists and turns.

Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

In the eleventh Gilded Newport mystery, Emma and Derrick are married and back from their honeymoon. Emma is fretting that neither his house nor her house feels like their house. But it is back to work for her as the reporter for the Newport Messenger.

Emma is called to the Elms, a newly built mansion, when she learns that the servants are threatening to strike over working conditions. She goes there and finds rival publisher Orville Brown agitating for the workers. When they do strike, The Elms owner Ned Berwind fires all of them but a Portuguese woman named Ines who refuses to join the strike.

Just a couple of weeks later, Emma and Derrick are invited to a musical night at The Elms and meets two different couples who are houseguests. Charles and Kay Gilchrist are a mismatched couple. He's much older and a colleague of Ned's. Rex and Sylvie Morton are the other couple. He's an investment banker and she's the one who sponsored the musical entertainment.

When the entertainment is broken up by the discovery of maid Ines's body in the coal tunnel, Emma and Derrick both decide to look into the crime. And just a while later, when a valuable diamond necklace is stolen from Rex's safe, things get more complicated.

As Emma looks into the mystery, she discovers lots and lots of connections between the couple and lots more questions than answers when she interviews them leading her to find herself in danger.

This was an entertaining mystery. I liked the historical setting. I also liked the relationship between Emma and Derrick. I've only read the first in this series and had no trouble getting into this one. While earlier events are mentioned, no knowledge is needed to understand and enjoy this mystery.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this story.

What a delicious introduction to the Gilded Newport Mystery series. How ever did I not know about this series with all of its lavish homes along the sea?! I certainly have some catching up to do.

Emmaline Cross, Emma to all her friends, is a bright and fiercely independent female news reporter. She has just returned from her honeymoon abroad with her husband Derrick Andrews. Emma and Derrick own the Newport Messenger newspaper for which she writes. Emma's been given a tip about a kerfuffle below stairs at the relatively new Berwind estate. The staff (except for one) are set to strike for better working conditions. Things did not go according to plan and the staff are summarily dismissed and immediately replaced. Shortly thereafter, Emma and Derrick are invited to the Berwinds' Musicale - featuring a British chamber ensemble in celebration of the Berwinds' new fully electrified home. All is going relatively to plan until a body is discovered at the bottom of the coal delivery tunnel. Coincidentally, a lavish and priceless necklace appears to have been stolen. Could the two crimes be related? Police detective, Jesse Whyte, and longtime friend of Emma's family, asks for Emma's and Derrick's assistance as they are more likely to hear and see things within the posh crowd to which he would not be privy. And so the investigation commences.

Ms. Maxwell has deftly crafted a well written and thoroughly engaging story. Her characters are well developed and the settings are spectacular and cinematic in their description. The descriptions of the lavish homes make this reader long for another visit to The Breakers; to revel in the opulence of a bygone era. Emma is the personification of the modern woman. She's related to the Vanderbilt's and yet is not a stranger to the working class. She manages well between both worlds and has heart for the working poor. As we observe her husband comfortably working alongside her, he too is a modern man - accepting of his amazing and plucky wife and all that she is.

I am grateful to #Kensington Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through #NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: August 22, 2023
ISBN: 978-1496736208
No. of pages: 304

Lady Phoebe’s sister, Lady Julia, is hosting a house party and Coco Chanel with her entourage crash the party and decides it’s the perfect location for a photo shoot for her latest fashions. Her premiere model is murdered and it’s Phoebe and her Lady’s Maid, Eva, who unravel the rivalries, jealousies and entanglements and then there’s a second murder.½

reporter, cozy-mystery, newlyweds, newspaper-owner, 1901, class-consciousness, strikers, amateur-sleuth, historical-novel, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, immigrants, theft, Rhode Island, pet-dog, law-enforcement, servants, series, murder-investigation, murder, history-and-culture, relationships, family, family-dynamics, snooty-people, mystery*****

First there was the walkout by the servants of a household that paid well, had comfortable accommodations, but NO PERSONAL TIME OFF. Only one maid was afraid to join the walkout, but she was the one found strangled in the coal cellar. To top it off, it soon becomes apparent that she absconded with a valuable necklace pilfered from the room of one of the guests (there is much mystery about that necklace). The publisher's blurb is a good intro to the story. Let the sleuthing by the newlywed newspeople 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. Fascinating look into the place and time in a very good read.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Excellent cozy mystery if you're in the mood for the genre. A mansion cut off from civilization by a storm... a retreat for a group of artists and performers who are sort of friends and sort of enemies... slight vibes of And Then There Were None (but this is not that story).

I felt that the solution was rather too involved for a reader to have a fair chance at deducing it... there were just so many threads, and I like my mysteries a bit more focused. But the setup was really compelling and as always I really enjoy Emma and her little family at Gull Manor.

Didn’t enjoy this one as much as some of the others... I don’t quite buy Emma as editor of a newspaper... I know that the murder mystery has to take center stage in the book, but it felt like the newspaper was more of an afterthought for her even though it’s supposed to be this huge aspirational thing.

And I’m not sure about the plot point of having the first victim *possibly* be her half-brother’s father but then never really exploring the implications of that. It just sort of got dropped, making me wonder why it was there.

As usual with the Gilded Newport Mysteries, I enjoy the sense of place that the author creates, and having her central character be on the edge of wealth and fame but not truly part of it is an interesting perspective, especially for the solving of mysteries.
However, the mystery in this one was not my favorite. Having her detective, Emma Cross, gain entry under false pretenses to the home of a bereaved mother and daughter to snoop through their bedrooms just felt ethically questionable to me. Also, it's becoming less clear to me what Emma's motivation is for solving mysteries. It comes across now as curiosity mixed with a desire to one-up the police, and that's not terribly compelling to me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advance review copy.

Although I thought there were too many things going on with the culprit's back story, I enjoyed the storytelling, pacing, setting and characters very much. This series is among the best I've read for cozy mysteries.


Content note: Parts of the story involve Emma questioning the girls at a house of ill repute, but there's nothing gratuitous discussed or shown.

I'm still looking forward to continuing this series, but the body count in this one was absurdly high, and the culprit and reveal just strayed too far into melodrama/soap opera territory for me. Hope the next one is a return to form.

Another fun example of a cozy mystery, just thought the pacing could have sped up a little. But that might just be me! I maintain that if you want a cozy, this series fits the bill in a satisfying way.

I like the intersection of make-believe and real history in these books, with various members of the Vanderbilt family becoming much larger than life than I ever imagined them before. As well as interesting sections of Newport. The mystery was pretty good here, I didn’t figure it out as I did in the first book.