Still Life With Murder follows the story of Nell Sweeney, a doctor’s apprentice turned high-society governess. Nell has to hide her shady past from her blue-blood employers, the Hewitts, one of the wealthy families of Boston. She becomes entangled in the family’s secrets when she must find out the truth of their son, Will. Long believed to be dead and wanted for murder, Nell works to clear his name while maneuvering through the back alleys and seedy tenements she has tried to escape.
When I originally saw this e-book, I knew I couldn’t resist the combination of Murder Mystery, History, and Romance. Ryan’s greatest achievement is her historical accuracy and details that transports you into the Gilded Age. Our main character Nell, is not of that time; she is smart, capable, and not prone to fainting spells. At times she seems almost too modern, but I would rather spend a few hours with her than a shrinking violet. The other main characters, the Hewitts, are well developed and highly flawed, which makes them both frustrating and compelling to read about.
I had very few complaints with the novel, and it was written very naturally with little pretense. Each twist and turn of the plot was compelling and pushed me to keep reading. The situations our heroine got herself into (brothels, opium dens, and gambling halls) felt a little predictable, but certainly added to the excitement of the mystery. I found myself unable to put it down, and I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
Still Life With Murder is available for FREE on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
-Kate
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