Book 13. Another easy & delightful mystery. KIRKUS REVIEWA midwife?s latest delivery involves her in murder.Despite being the daughter of a wealthy and socially prominent New York family, widowed Sarah Brandt continues to work as a midwife. Called out to deliver a baby, she does not immediately realize that Amy, the lovely and spoiled young woman about to give birth, is a prostitute. When Sarah, who has finally realized where she is working, returns to check on the baby boy, Amy begs her to contact Mrs. Van Orner, a wealthy woman who devotes herself to rescuing prostitutes. Impressed by Mrs. Van Orner?s charitable work, Sarah helps Amy escape to a safe house. Amy turns out to be a demanding and calculating young woman who hints that her son was fathered by Mrs. Van Orner?s husband. When Mrs. Van Orner is found dead in her carriage after leaving the safe house, Sarah?s friend, Detective Frank Malloy, gets the case. In turn-of-the-century New York, the police are so completely controlled by the powers that be that Malloy can investigate only if Van Orner asks for an investigation. Coaxed by Mrs. Van Orner?s secretary, Miss Yingling, however, Van Orner agrees. The only suspects in his wife?s laudanum poisoning are members of his own household and the women who live or work at the safe house. Sarah has her work cut out for her in helping Malloy solve the disagreeable and dangerous case.Thompson?s enjoyable historical series (Murder on Lexington Avenue, 2010, etc.) continues to highlight the social injustices of the time, some of which continue to this day.

Murder on Sisters' Row
3 Stars

Midwife Sarah Brandt is called to assist a young woman in labor at what turns out to be a high end brothel. When the new mother claims she is being held against her will, Sarah becomes involved with a charity that rescues prostitutes. But then the head of the organization is poisoned, and Sarah learns that there is more to the girl's story than meets the eye.

While this installment is enjoyable overall with the informative historical tidbits and the immersive sense of place, it also feels as if the series is stagnating. The cases are predictable and aside from the recurring cast, the characters are all so unpleasant and unlikable.

Moreover, Sarah and Frank's romance has stalled, and something really needs to happen between them very soon to keep me interested. ( )

Once again Victoria Thompson delivers a great murder mystery, this time set in the world of brothels, whores and well-to-do do-gooders.

Loved the characters in this one and the plot was intriguing and believable.

Each of the Gaslight Mysteries has an interesting way of exposing the underbelly of old New York and the sometimes desperate denizens of the big apple

All held together as always by Malloy and co. ( )

When Sarah Brandt is summoned to deliver a baby, she thinks she is going to a boarding house for unmarried mothers, not a brothel. Still, she finds herself in one, delivering a baby to a woman who insists she needs help because she is being held against her will. Sarah agrees to help her and finds herself once again immersed in trouble and requiring the help of Frank Malloy. When there is another murder, Frank turns to Sarah for help. ( )

I thought I'd hit on the killer early on while listening to Murder on Sisters' Row, but as more facts came to light, I changed my mind. Then I changed it again as a new fact was revealed. I like it when the killer isn't obvious. Poor Frank Malloy -- this time he actually has to ask Sarah Brandt's help to investigate the murder (after he tried to keep her out of it too).

Among other facts we get to learn about New York City around the turn of the 20th century is another definition of 'pigeonhole'. As for Sisters' Row itself, they were big time brothels. I did appreciate Sarah educating her mother on why poor women turned to prostitution. No, it wasn't depravity. As late as the 1980s or 1990s I remember reading about a contemporary doctor's concern that the only way his patient could earn enough money to feed her children properly was by returning to prostitution.

The concept of the deserving poor and the undeserving poor is at the heart of the Charity Organization Society that is part of the background of this installment. I was appalled by the reason the leader didn't want to give poor mothers what she considered too much aid. It is as tragically wrong as the notorious Eastern State Penitentiary's hope that solitary confinement would rehabilitate prisoners.

There's some slight progress on the Frank and Sarah front. The reader can tell they're falling for each other, but they can't. ( )