Aloha to Alyssa Maxwell and MURDER AT MARBLE HOUSE - Book review and giveaway

With the dawn of the twentieth century on the horizon, the fortunes of the venerable Vanderbilt family still shine brightly in the glittering high society of Newport, Rhode Island. But when a potential scandal strikes, the Vanderbilts turn to cousin and society page reporter Emma Cross to solve a murder and a disappearance. . .Responding to a frantic call on her newfangled telephone from her eighteen-year-old cousin, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Emma Cross arrives at the Marble House mansion and learns the cause of her distress--Consuelo's mother, Alva, is forcing her into marriage with the Duke of Marlborough. Her mother has even called in a fortune teller to assure Consuelo of a happy future.

But the future is short-lived for the fortune teller, who is found dead by her crystal ball, strangled with a silk scarf. Standing above her is one of the Vanderbilts' maids, who is promptly taken into police custody. After the frenzy has died down, Consuelo is nowhere to be found. At Alva's request, Emma must employ her sleuthing skills to determine if the vanishing Vanderbilt has eloped with the beau of her choice--or if her disappearance may be directly connected to the murder. . .

Marble House
Permission granted at this link

Fortune, good night; smile once more, turn thy wheel. – Shakespeare

Alyssa Maxwell returns to Newport’s Gilded Age with Emma Cross – a society reporter turned amateur sleuth. Although Emma is a distant cousin of the Vanderbilts, she treasures her independence at a time of growing interest in women’s suffrage. Emma balances the Vanderbilts’ demand for her time with her own pursuit of a journalism career.

Maxwell sets this cozy mystery apart with the colorful world of Newport’s society. I spent several weekends in Newport, renting a summer house with other Boston denizens - Maxwell is on target with her apt descriptions of the seaside resort. Likewise, I appreciate Emma’s internal conflict of finding her way despite the interest of a rich suitor and interference of her influential relatives. Maxwell tells the story through Emma’s first person perspective. At times the prose was monotone but it also offered a glimpse of what it must have been like for Emma to watch the women’s right movement unfold among the glitter of the Gilded Age. 

Recommended read for fans of historical set cozy mystery. MURDER AT MARBLE HOUSE will also appeal to readers who have visited Newport.

Marble House is part of Newport's Cliff Walk

Image released to Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a print copy of MURDER AT MARBLE HOUSE to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Newport - have you visited this seaside resort?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 19.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Learn more about Alyssa and her books at alyssamaxwell.com.

Check out my review of MURDER AT THE BREAKERS, Book 1 in the Gilded Newport Mysteries, at this link.