Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 978-0-425-21531-9

MURDER IN CHINATOWN is one of the Gaslight Mysteries by Thompson featuring Sarah Brandt. Brandt is a midwife in turn-of-the-century New York and her profession has taken her to Chinatown to deliver a baby for a Chinese/Irish couple. Sarah discovers that since Chinese women are not allowed to enter the country, some Chinese men have elected to take brides from among the female Irish immigrant population. While at the house, Sarah becomes involved in the hunt for the new mother’s missing Chinese/Irish niece. The girl is found across town with her new husband, but is murdered a few days later.

Sarah continues to provide support for the new mother and the family of the murdered girl but can’t extricate herself from the mystery of the young woman’s death. No one was happy with the marriage – but who murdered the new bride?

Although similar to Anne Perry’s books in setup, this book has less historical detail, less grit, and is a little less preachy. This book really strikes me as a modern day mystery that just happens to have a historical setting. It wasn’t tremendously interesting from a historical point of view because it was so lacking in description. But it had the usual determined female protagonist and the male police officer telling her not to get involved with a few sparks between the two for romantic interest.

Which is not to say it is a bad book, because it isn’t. It just isn’t a knock-your-socks-off historical mystery. If you like a relaxing read with a female protagonist in an interesting setting, this is the book for you.

Did I guess it? No. It was pretty open right up until the end and I had a different suspect pegged for it. Favorite character? The two Irish women who have chosen to marry Chinese men are the best characters in the book. Will I read another? Maybe.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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