Book three in the Jane Prescott mystery series, set in Gilded Age New York City, was my introduction to Mariah Fredericks's plucky (and I mean that in the nicest way) ladies'maid heroine, who this go-round has her vacation interrupted when murder strikes too close to her former home. Abandoned by her father at the age of three, Jane arrived in New York to live with her uncle in a former brothel he now runs as a refuge for women trying to start a new and better life. Even with her rather stern uncle, Jane's memories of her childhood home are good ones - though in recent times the refuge finds itself under siege by a band of pious "Christians" determined to shut down the place; so determined, in fact, they allude to Jane's uncle having more than a Christian interest in the women he boards there for free. Things go from bad to worse, however, when one of the more rambunctious of the lady residents is found murdered in an alley not too far from the refuge, her face butchered nearly beyond recognition, and - while also trying to help her employer work on costumes for a huge festival coming up at one of New York's largest/most renowned department stores for women - Jane finds herself playing detective to track down the killer when suspicion falls squarely on her uncle for the crime. My recent experience with mysteries has been more along the "cozy" lines, and that's definitely not what this is; Death of an American Beauty is a pure-blood historical mystery that fares a bit bloodier and randier in subject matter than any cozy.
My interest in the book stemmed from my love of New York City and wanting to check out the author's "feel" for how it was back in 1913, and I have to admit that I was captivated by the city - as much a character itself - and its denizens as I was by Jane and the supporting cast, in
what ended up being one of my favorites mystery reads in awhile, as well. Jane fixates quite quickly on who she thinks the killer is, the novel not so much about her detection and chasing down suspects (which may throw some mystery junkies, though it made me love the book that much more) as it is about her working through, by process of elimination, who could fit the bill. Even then, for me at least the ending was a surprise - and quite a suspenseful one; I didn't realize, until almost the end of the final confrontation (so to speak), that I'd been chewing on my bottom lip the whole time I was reading. Suspenseful, very well-written - so that you are put into the time and place of NYC 1913 immediately - and with a wholly likable cast of characters (including Jane's employer, male crime reporter friend, former mentor and hat-making friend from the refuge, and potential piano-playing suitor), though this was my introduction to Jane Prescott and her world, I most certainly can't wait to jump back to read the first two, to be able to catch up in time for book four. Very well-done. 4.5/5 stars
NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
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