The year is 1880, the place San Francisco. Intelligent, outspoken Sarah Woolson is a young woman with a goal and the fortitude to achieve it. She ...
read full description
reviews
May 24, 2011
Juliana
rated it: 
I'm glad I happened upon this book in the library, as it ended up being an enjoyable read and a good mystery. The heroine, Sarah Woolson, is a real spitfire and very opinionated; while sometimes annoying, she is for the most part a great lead character - and at times very funny. Her family is very interesting and they are a great addition to the cast of characters. I also loved Robert Campbell, a fellow associate attorney at their firm, a big and loud Scot alway objecting to Sarah's ideas and pl
More...
7 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 28, 2010
Cindy
rated it: 
I don't want to be too mean with my review, but this book was bad.
Sarah Woolson lives in San Francisco in 1880 and she has just passed the bar exam. Too bad no one wants to hire her, but women are too emotional and illogical to practice law, right? Well, I don't buy that one, but Sarah IS pretty silly. She is such a crusader for women's rights and she doesn't think ahead much. She has completely modern views on politics, marriage, and romance.
And besides that, the book itself More...
Sarah Woolson lives in San Francisco in 1880 and she has just passed the bar exam. Too bad no one wants to hire her, but women are too emotional and illogical to practice law, right? Well, I don't buy that one, but Sarah IS pretty silly. She is such a crusader for women's rights and she doesn't think ahead much. She has completely modern views on politics, marriage, and romance.
And besides that, the book itself More...
Dec 19, 2009
Historical Tapestry
rated it:
Sarah Woolson is the younger daughter of a prominent family of San Francisco. Her father is a respected judge and she always wanted to follow his footsteps and practice law. While having all the requirements, a woman attorney was not a common thing in 1880. But Sarah is not easily put down and with the help of her brother, she manages to get an interview with Shepherd, McNaughton and Hall (a renowned law firm). There she meets Annjennet Hannaford, a young widow and a client of the firm but who g
More...
Mar 14, 2011
Debbie
rated it: 
I have never read Shirley Tallman or any of her books written under the pseudonym Erin Ross. I enjoyed this excursion into San Francisco history of the 1880's. Almost 99% of the facts presented by Tallman are actual events and individuals of California history, with the exception of the Golden Gate Bridge that was not started until 1933 and finished in 1937. As many reviewers have mentioned, all the historical data is not relevant to the plot development. Tallman almost mentions the plight o
More...
Jan 10, 2009
Oriana
rated it:
Sarah Woolson is the younger daughter of a prominent family of San Francisco. Her father is a respected judge and she always wanted to follow his footsteps and practice law. While having all the requirements, a woman attorney was not a common thing in 1880. But Sarah is not easily put down and with the help of her brother, she manages to get an interview with Shepherd, McNaughton and Hall (a renowned law firm). There she meets Annjennet Hannaford, a young widow and a client of the firm but who g
More...
May 09, 2011
Gail
rated it:
Set in San Francisco in 1880, Sarah Woolson is an upper-class woman, educated at the law. After successfully passing the bar, she manufactures a ruse to get an interview at a stuffy law firm. Before the stodgy male partners can eject her, she has fast talked herself into a client and a trial job. Her client, recently widowed, needs Sarah's assistance to access the money of her own inheritance.
In the course of fighting to get accepted, the widowed client soon becomes accused of her h More...
In the course of fighting to get accepted, the widowed client soon becomes accused of her h More...
Jan 16, 2011
Angela
rated it:
Overall, I enjoyed this series (this book was the first of 4, so far). The main character is alright, although a little "preachy" on the subject of women's rights. The historical detail of an 1880s San Francisco is fascinating-I enjoyed the descriptions of an early Nob Hill, Russian Hill and Chinatown. The mystery itself is fine- not too intricate, but well done. My only quibbles are the somewhat lecturing tone on women's rights and the difficulty with getting to know the main characte
More...
Aug 27, 2007
LJ
rated it:
MURDER ON NOB HILL (Legal Thriller-San Francisco-1880) – VG
Tallman, Shirley – 1st in series
St. Martin's Minotaur, 2004- Hardcover
Sarah Wollson is an intelligent, independent young woman who is determined to be a lawyer. She brazens her way to represent her first client and a job with a prestigious law firm. However, her client is arrested for the murder of her husband and Sarah is the only one who believes her client is innocent. When a partner of the first victim is murder More...
Tallman, Shirley – 1st in series
St. Martin's Minotaur, 2004- Hardcover
Sarah Wollson is an intelligent, independent young woman who is determined to be a lawyer. She brazens her way to represent her first client and a job with a prestigious law firm. However, her client is arrested for the murder of her husband and Sarah is the only one who believes her client is innocent. When a partner of the first victim is murder More...
Jun 11, 2010
Kathy
rated it:
Originally, I bought this book just to listen to Anna Fields voice again. She always made ANYthing she narrated an delightful story.
I was not disappointed. This book is well written and the narration is spot on.
The characters are smart, the mystery solution is not obvious and the characters have to think outside the constraints of societal norms. Lots of interesting historical detail.
Tallman's story reminds me of Anne Perry's books with Hester Latterly and William Monk
More...
I was not disappointed. This book is well written and the narration is spot on.
The characters are smart, the mystery solution is not obvious and the characters have to think outside the constraints of societal norms. Lots of interesting historical detail.
Tallman's story reminds me of Anne Perry's books with Hester Latterly and William Monk
More...
Apr 26, 2010
I found the pacing of this book slow and the plot, from what I read, didn't hold my interest. At the beginning, the main character goes to a law firm to apply for a position, gets refused an interview, then proceeds to usher a potential client of the firm into one of the offices and locks to the door to listen to this case. Seriously?!? I could suspend belief as well as the next person, but I found this action a little ridiculous.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 03, 2010
Qiana
rated it:
In the end I liked this book and will read the next in the series. However, the main character insistence that's she just as good as a man and just as logical--while basically stomping her feet saying so and so is innocent--got really annoying.
Hopefully now that the author has established the characters, she can focus more on the mystery and less on the "I'm so different than the average woman of the time" nonsense.
Hopefully now that the author has established the characters, she can focus more on the mystery and less on the "I'm so different than the average woman of the time" nonsense.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 20, 2009
RuthG
rated it:
This is the first book in a fun mystery series about a young woman attorney in San Francisco in the 1880's. She battles prejudice against women while practicing law, working on her cases, and solving the mysteries too. The major characters are introduced in this story and Sarah Woolson's personality is defined. The mystery and the historical details are interesting. I'm glad I started reading this series.
Feb 04, 2011
Chelsea
rated it:
This is a great opener to a mystery series. It takes place in San Francisco in the late 1800s. The sleuth is a lady attorney (yes, one of the very first in California!) with a passion for seeking justice and protecting those who can't protect themselves. She's got spunk and is really fun to read about. An all-around "good read!" I look forward to checking out the next books in the series.
Aug 24, 2010
Catherine
rated it:
This was another quick read. It was remarkably similar to the first book in the Amelia Peabody mystery, with the Victorian time period, a strong, outspoken, and overly confident female protagonist, and a large, blustering, loud and angry hero. It was enjoyable, though slightly predictable, and relaxing to read. I am looking forward to the second book, which I have reserved at my local library.
Oct 13, 2010
Rachel
rated it: 
Mediocre (what a marvelous word!) book. The author was banging on social issues that were -true- critical in the 1880s, but with a very 21st century voice and mode of expression. I came away feeling like someone needs to show the author that a woman can be strong without disliking men or marriage.
Oct 13, 2009
Sally
rated it:
Nothing like a good murder mystery with an historical setting when you want to escape. Tallman tells a good story without offensive language or too graphic detail. I wonder if there were families in Victorian San Francisco who had such liberated women. I hope so.
Mar 25, 2008
JayeL
rated it:
On another librarian's recommendation, I bought this book and the Russian Hill Murders on audio. I enjoyed the stories, but my favorite part was hearing about San Francisco of the past. It was great to hear about streets with which I am familiar and try to imagine which parts may still be standing (probably none due to the fire in 1906). It was also nice to hear about what was in the neighborhoods south of Market way back when. In the first book a woman and her lover are falsely accused of murde
More...
Jul 15, 2010
Sarah
rated it: 
Great, heartwarming story of courage with a mystery as well. Sarah Woolson is an aspiring lawyer who is tough, courageous, and extremely intelligient. Author Shirley Tallman is a great writer and storyteller. I highly recommend this book.
Aug 03, 2011
Susan
rated it:
This mystery is set in the late 1800s in San Francisco and features Sarah Woolson, an attorney. She doggedly pursues a murderer along with another attorney, Robert Campbell,who infuriates her. The play between Sarah and Robert creates an interesting subplot and the mystery is solved satisfactorily.
Aug 22, 2011
Cmc1012
rated it:
After starting the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books, I liked the idea of female detectives/lawyers when that was not common. Somehow stumbled onto these. They are definitely entertaining...
Feb 15, 2011
Paulette
rated it:
I have no idea where I got the recommendation. This entertaining mystery is set in San Francisco in 1880. The main character is a feisty, young woman with a law degree and determination galore.
Sep 24, 2009
Misti
rated it:
I thought this was an entertaining and light read. The main character reminds me a little bit of Amelia Peabody, but I do like her. I'm looking forward to reading the others in this series.
Jul 05, 2009
Julie
rated it:
I thought the way the victims were murdered was written just for shock value. Still, it was entertaining enough for me to want to read the next in the series.
May 04, 2010
Diane
rated it:
It's kind of fun reading reading about a woman who fancies herself with her own independent identity in 1880 ....
Jan 06, 2011
Cherilee
rated it:
I would give this 3 1/2 if I could. I really enjoyed the book but was a little disatisfied with the ending. Overall though a good mystery.
Jan 10, 2010
Staci
rated it:
What a lovely young feisty character Sarah Woolson is!! She's a lawyer in San Francisco in 1880, a time where women who work outside of the house are frowned upon. Sarah does not care because she does not want any MAN telling her how to live her life. The mystery was very well written and I wasn't sure of the guilty party until almost the last page. I loved learning historical facts about San Francisco and the city is a major character in this book. I'm most definitely going to continue on with
More...
Jan 22, 2010
Susan
rated it:
Maybe I'm not being fair to this one... listened to in the car and it just wasn't keeping my interest, my mind kept wandering. It was an okay read, but nothing spectacular. Ended up dealing with a scandalous sex club so I can't even recommend it to the little old ladies.
