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457th out of 738 books
—
1,609 voters
Murder in a Mill Town (Nell Sweeney Mystery Series #2)
by
P.B. Ryan
For Nell, tracing the path of a missing woman through the seedy parts of 1868 Boston just may be the death of her.
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
July 6th 2004
by Berkley
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1,105)
It only gets better and better.
I have been looking forward to read every single line of every book of the entire series. The Nell Sweeney mysteries introduced me to a completely new world of mystery novels. I have now finished the series, but I chose to write a review for this particular one because it is where I fully recognized the true potential of this saga.
Nell Sweeney is a strong-willed, brave and wicked-awesome female lead. I despise reading books which give me the urge to say "grow a b...more
I have been looking forward to read every single line of every book of the entire series. The Nell Sweeney mysteries introduced me to a completely new world of mystery novels. I have now finished the series, but I chose to write a review for this particular one because it is where I fully recognized the true potential of this saga.
Nell Sweeney is a strong-willed, brave and wicked-awesome female lead. I despise reading books which give me the urge to say "grow a b...more
I bought this as soon as I had finished the first one and tore through it like I did the first one. I haven't bought the next one yet, I don't want to go through them too fast so I'm going to re-read the first two before moving on to the third one. Plus now that we've gotten more of Nell's past, some surprising to me and some not, that had been hinted at in the first book, I want to re-read with that knowledge in mind.
I had two characters I was suspicious of this time and one of them turned out...more
I had two characters I was suspicious of this time and one of them turned out...more
3 likes · like · see review
Nell Sweeney,the governess for the rich and conservative Hewitt family is asked by Mrs. Hewitt to learn what happened to one of the mill girls who suddenly disappeared. Nell is hesitate but can't say no to Mrs. Hewitt. Nell has secrets, she has not shared with her friends Detective Cook or Will Hewitt. Duncan the man in prison for armed robbery is writing from prison, asking to see her. The prison priest is learning all about Nell from his Bible studies with Dunce. When Birdie and Virge, come up...more
This is the second instalment of the Nell Sweenie mystery series.
Yet again I have to say: I UTTERLY LOVED IT!
I have actually shelled out the $6 for this book from the gift card I got!!! This is a big deal, since I am on a strict budget and think about everything I buy at least three times LOL
It was so totally worth it, that I went ahead and bought the next book in the series as well! (and am reading it now.. I think you can say I am hooked!)
I just love Nell! She is trying so hard to be respect...more
Yet again I have to say: I UTTERLY LOVED IT!
I have actually shelled out the $6 for this book from the gift card I got!!! This is a big deal, since I am on a strict budget and think about everything I buy at least three times LOL
It was so totally worth it, that I went ahead and bought the next book in the series as well! (and am reading it now.. I think you can say I am hooked!)
I just love Nell! She is trying so hard to be respect...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
P. B Ryan's Gilded Age Mystery series continues with the 2nd book entitled Murder in a Mill Town. With well developed characters and setting descriptions of Boston during the late 1800s, it's easy to escape into a world of not only the Brahmin society but the seedy side of Boston as well.
When a couple comes to Viola Hewitt asking her to help them find their daughter, Bridget, who has disappeared, Viola asks Nell Sweeney, the governess of of her adopted daughter, to help them. This search takes N...more
When a couple comes to Viola Hewitt asking her to help them find their daughter, Bridget, who has disappeared, Viola asks Nell Sweeney, the governess of of her adopted daughter, to help them. This search takes N...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Aug 22, 2011
Sharanya
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical,
mystery
Not quite as explosive as the first book, but still an extremely enjoyable read! Nell's relationship with Will progresses and becomes a firm friendship (with the hint of something more!), as they try to find the killer of one of Harry Hewitt's mill workers, Bridget Sullivan. Again, the characters are engaging and Will/Nell's relationship is wonderful to follow! I love Will as a character, especially. His teasing ways with Nell, the clear affection and joy he feels for Gracie. The added intrigue...more
Aug 22, 2011
Dorie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nookbooks_lendable,
historical-mysteries
Second in the Nell Sweeney series. In this one a young woman that works at one of the Hewitt's mills has gone missing. After both Harry and August Hewitt fair to help, the parents of the woman approach Viola, who asks Nell to investigate the matter. During the course of the first part of the novel, it is discovered that Harry Hewitt attempted to rape Nell. Fortunately she was able to escape (while leaving a satisfying scar on his face). We also find out the full story of Nell and her relationshi...more
Viola Hewitt asks Nell to help a family whose daughter works at one of the Hewitt mills and has gone missing. As Nell digs deeper into the girls life, she also must come in contact with Harry Hewitt, son of her employer, and he and Nell have had very shaky relations in the past. Will Hewitt resurfaces, after being gone for several weeks and with his help, Nell finds the missing girl who is very much dead. But a dead Irish girl isn't the only problem Nell must contend with, the man that tried to...more
As you can tell from my rating, I really enjoyed "Murder in a Mill Town", by P.B. Ryan. The detecting governess, Nell McSweeney is back, along with many of the characters we met in the first book, "Still Life With Murder". It is important I think, to read these books in order. "Murder in a Mill Town" provides many new elements in Nell's back story, some of which were quite surprisiing. The plot moves quickly along, as Nell tries to find out what happened to a young Irish girl named Bridie. Dr. W...more
Jan 25, 2012
Leslie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ebook-nook,
historical-mystery-suspense
This is the second book in the series about Nell Sweeney, who is a governess in Boston who solves crimes with the help of an opium addicted former Civil War surgeon named Will Hewitt. He is a son of the family she works for. The mystery in this story is much more straight forward but the ending is quite a surprise. The author does a wonderful job of moving the story along and her characters are complex and interesting. The relationship between Nell and Will continues to develop at a realistic pa...more
Although GR calls this the 3rd book in the series, it isn't it is really the 2nd.
When Bridget 'Bridie' Sullivan goes missing, no one believes that anything untoward has happened to her. She is a bit of a good time girl and everyone thinks she just ran off with her ex-con boyfriend. Everyone, that is, except her mother. Mrs. Fallon knows that Bridie wouldn't just run off, but no one will believe her. Desperate she turns to Mrs. Hewitt who is known to have a compassionate heart. And Bridie worked...more
When Bridget 'Bridie' Sullivan goes missing, no one believes that anything untoward has happened to her. She is a bit of a good time girl and everyone thinks she just ran off with her ex-con boyfriend. Everyone, that is, except her mother. Mrs. Fallon knows that Bridie wouldn't just run off, but no one will believe her. Desperate she turns to Mrs. Hewitt who is known to have a compassionate heart. And Bridie worked...more
The second book in the Guild Age series brings Nell and Will back together. I do love the character development that Ryan puts into this series. Nell, helping to find the daughter of some workers, is drawn in purer detail and we find out more about how and why she ended up where she is. Even the details about Will's little daughter are drawn into sharper focus. She's not a plot moppet, though she is a bit precocious.
A great second edition and I can't wait to read the third book in the series.
A great second edition and I can't wait to read the third book in the series.
I enjoy this series, although I wouldn't quite put it in the category of spectacular-can't-put-it-down. The main character, Nell Sweeney, is enjoyable and engaging. The characters aren't always predictable, although as I get more used to the author's style that will probably change--I'll probably more easily be able to predict things earlier on. I had figured out whodunnit before the great reveal but not too much before the reveal, which is saying something. (I've read mysteries by other authors...more
A pretty good read. The historical angle is interesting. The plot maintained my interest, and in fact, I was surprised at who turned out to be the villain. (view spoiler). I'll probably keep going in this series, until the predictability quotient becomes too high. (view spoiler)
I read this book in a day and a half. It was absolutely captivating. I think I'm in love with the would-be hero, he's so dark and flawed, and yet quite obviously capable of so much good. Perhaps with Miss Sweeney's direction... I digress. Again, I was surprised by the conclusion. It's a diverting, captivating story, and I'm hooked on the series. I finished this and went straight into the next. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.
A very satisfying mystery, although the contrivance used to involve the governess in solving the mystery is a little unbelievable. A young woman mill-worker is missing, and her parents come to the wife of the mill owner for help in finding their daughter. The governess, as a surrogate for her crippled mistress, takes charge of the search, aided by her employer's eldest son, whom she helped clear of murder in book #1.
I really like the direction the relationship between the main characters is going. I like that the characters aren't perfect; they are flawed individuals with struggles and challenges.
The description of one particular sexual assault was a bit too much for my own tastes; I find that sort of thing disturbing. This wasn't enough to put me off the series, unless it is repeated in subsequent installments.
The description of one particular sexual assault was a bit too much for my own tastes; I find that sort of thing disturbing. This wasn't enough to put me off the series, unless it is repeated in subsequent installments.
When a mill worker goes missing, a distraught mother begs Mrs. Hewitt to help find her. In turn Mrs. Hewitt has her governess Nell investigate the disappearance. In doing so, Nell has a run in with her own past.
I found the main character smart and engaging. While I don't read a lot of historical mysteries, I'll be checking out the others in this series.
I found the main character smart and engaging. While I don't read a lot of historical mysteries, I'll be checking out the others in this series.
#2 in series (Gilded Age Mystery). A governess is attracted to the mysterious older brother, but the younger brother keeps getting implicated in murders. Nell Sweeney, with the help of the older brother and potiential lover (Will), finally solve the crime and vindicate the brother. Still a lasting emnity between Nell and the younger brother (Harry)
May 14, 2013
thistle
added it
Okay, if a bit highly charged (trigger warning for aggravated assault and two attempted/unsuccessful rapes). One retcon error: do not attempt to heighten a female character's UST by saying she hasn't been in a man's bedroom with him in five years if it happened in the prior book, which takes place some nine months earlier. hmph.
This is the second in a historical mystery series. I love series as I love "becoming friends" with the characters as they return and are more familiar.
I enjoyed this one better than the first...not sure if it was the storyline or just character development.
While I have enjoyed the first 2 books, I am uncertain if I wish to continue the series.
I enjoyed this one better than the first...not sure if it was the storyline or just character development.
While I have enjoyed the first 2 books, I am uncertain if I wish to continue the series.
This Nell Sweeney mystery had everything that made the first one so good. The only thing that bugged me was a little inconsistency in Nell's character. She resists her feelings for Will, and comes across as prudish in some scenes, then the opposite in some other scenes, and some explanations of her behavior come across as weak and flimsy. Still, I like the series and plan on reading all six, perhaps before the week is through.
2nd book in the Nell Sweeney series, and I enjoyed reading this book. In this book, we learn more about Nell's past. That being said, I don't want to give anything away about this book. So, I will simply say that I enjoy Ms. Ryan's writing, how she transport the reader back in time, and how the resolutions to her mysteries so far are surprising.
Love reading the adventures of Nell and Will. Even Harry's trouble, keep you wanting to read on.
What a twist in this book. All these murders, you wonder who is responsible?? Shocking twist in this
book!! I highly recommend this book!! I think it would be an asset to any ones home library!!
What a twist in this book. All these murders, you wonder who is responsible?? Shocking twist in this
book!! I highly recommend this book!! I think it would be an asset to any ones home library!!
Second book in the series and a very fast "read". There was more about the main character's past but nothing I hadn't already figured out. This one takes the character into solving a mystery to find a missing woman only to have it come back to bring Nell's past to the forefront.
This series is starting to grow on me. In the first book, the main character Nell Sweeney seemed a little flat to me, but this book reveals much more of her backstory and her relationship with Will, a doctor and opium addict. It is a good read and good mystery.
It was a pleasure to read the 2nd book in the Nell Sweeney series. She continues to meet up with the eldest son of the family for whom she works. They end up working together to solve a horrific crime and we find out more about Nell's past history.
May 23, 2008
Susan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Historical mystery buffs
Recommended to Susan by:
Amazon
Good, not great; I wouldn't rank these with Anne Perry's best, but they are on a par with Victoria Thompson's Frank Malloy/Sarah Brandt mysteries - enjoyable, but I pretty much forget the plots a week after reading them. At least Ryan doesn't drag out the relationship between the female and male lead characters as Thompson has done - I understand **SPOILER ALERT** from reading Amazon reviews that she wraps this series up with "Bucketful of Ashes" and Nell Sweeney and Will Hewitt end up together....more
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“Being human doesn’t mean you’re weak, it just means you’re subject to the same little quirks and foibles as the rest of us—for which you should be grateful.”
—
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Mar 17, 2013 10:52am