I was thrilled to get the chance to read the sequel to Alice and the Assassin. Alice Roosevelt is a fabulous character, just as colorful in the series as she was in real life. Joseph St. Clair returns to be her bodyguard in the book and one of the first events they do are a ball. Well, not together, it's Alice that's going to the ball, Agent St. Clair is just waiting for her and playing poker with drivers, etc. Just a peaceful evening. Until Alice finds St. Clair and tells her there is a dead body...

The Body in the Ballroom is a good sequel to Alice and the Assassin. I have become quite fond of Alice Roosevelt. She's a bit unconventional and that's something I truly enjoy. It would be great fun to see her interact with her cousin Eleanor in some book in the future. Especially since they don't like each other.

The man that was killed was pretty much hated by everyone, but when a good friend to both Alice and St. Clair is accused of the murder must they act fast to catch the real murderer. Now they just have to find who hated him enough to kill him. The drawback with this murder investigations was that I suspected the truth for a long time before it was revealed that I was right. It was not that hard to figure out the truth, to be honest. The story would have been much more interesting if there had been some surprising twist to it. But, all and all a really nice book and I will definitely read more books in the series.

I want to thank Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ( )

Another enjoyable mystery with the outspoken and outrageous Alice Roosevelt and her Secret Service 'cowboy' Joseph St Clair. An influential but unpopular member of New York Society is poisoned at the debutante party of Alice's friend Philly, so of course the young president's daughter is drawn into the investigation, and her curiosity is piqued when a second poisoning occurs soon after. The first victim and the second victim's husband were members of an elite organisation called the XVII, determined to rid the city of all citizens unable to trace the family line back to the seventeenth century (namely immigrants and African Americans, of course), but could the real motive more about the workings of the heart than family heritage?

I love Alice, both real and fictional, and hope there is more amateur sleuthing to come before her marriage to Nicholas Longworth in 1906. St Clair is equally entertaining and his narration is easy to read. They are a great match too, with Alice using her family name to force her way into houses and confidences and the 'Cowboy' following closely to keep her out of harm's way. I think the author overegged the 'dumb hick with hidden depths' line in this book, however.

The mystery got stuck in a groove around the middle of the story, with Alice constantly talking over known facts and pondering who wanted who dead, but the 'dramatisation' of the murder kicked the pace back into gear. I was a little disappointed by the big reveal but these mysteries are more about the characters for me anyway. Long may Alice reign! ( )

Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt is invited to the Rutledge Ball where a man dies. Although this man is hated by nearly all at the ball, and is deemed unreliable, it is a car mechanic who is arrested. As he is a good friend of Alice's secret service bodyguard Joseph St. Clair, they both decide to clear his name.
I enjoyed this mystery and it kept be entertained until the end. I look forward to reading more in the series. Although this is the second in the series it was easily read as a stand-alone story.
A NetGalley Book ( )

Alice Roosevelt takes part in solving another murder this time not only is she in cahoots with Joey St Clair, her body guard, but with his sister Mariah; & Captain O'Hara of the NYPD.

Alice is at the coming out ball of her friend Philadelphia (Philly) Rutland when she witnesses a murder... a very "unreliable" man is poisoned while drinking the infamous gin punch surrounded by his wife & mistress.

The loathsome man is a part of a "club" (gang) known as XVII, those whose family have been in NY since the 1700's and are fast becoming anti-immigrant. He had become violent and taking to harassing innocent people, including Jews, one of which was a young man at the ball & Alice as well.

After the ball, Alice begins investigating by paying condolences to the widow (who honestly states that the poisoned cup of punch was her's) and next to the mistress of the dead man, who it turns out is pregnant. When the mistress is also poisoned, it seems as though someone has it out for the women involved with the "unreliable" man.

Again the book held my interest, Alice's stubbornness & high-handed manner did get a bit old, and again I did figure out "who-done-it" early on. ( )

The Body in the Ballroom: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery was a nice historical murder mystery centered around former president Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter Alice and her Secret Service Agent/Bodyguard Joseph St. Clair. This book is second in the Alice Roosevelt series but stands fine as a stand alone read. While at a ball a member of high society, Lynley Brackton dies after taking a poisoned drink. His wife later claims she knows the drink was meant for her. Alice and St. Clair try to solve the mystery because someone they know is being wrongfully accused.

As the story unfolds clues are being put together, they interview the wife, people who knew Brackton and even stumble on a secret wedding along the way. There is a diverse cast of characters here and the topic of class status and race are women into the story-line as well.

I liked Alice right away. She’s smart and sassy. I liked St. Clair too, they work well together. The dialogue between these two was entertaining. The writing pulled me right along and this one was a quick read.

As far as the mystery went it made sense and it wasn’t too hard to figure out. The ending wraps up and there is room for another installment. At the end of the book the author includes a note saying he based Alice and a few other characters in the book on real people.

Lastly, I also like the cover on this one, the teal is pretty. If you check out the author’s site there’s some nice covers on his other books too.

https://bookwormnai.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/the-body-in-the-ballroom-by-r-j-kor...

disclaimer: This review is my honest opinion. I did not receive any kind of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. I received my free copy of The Body in the Ballroom: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery through Partners In Crime Book Tours. ( )