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Sarah Woolson #2
The Russian Hill Murders
Though her own San Francisco law firm barely tolerates her, gutsy young attorney Sarah Woolson flouts proper feminine behavior in this nineteenth-century answer to Legally Blonde . While her mother begs her to settle down, her chauvinistic boss tries to come up with ever more spiteful ways to pressure his only female associate into quitting. Naturally, Sarah digs in her heels and vows to retain her position at any cost. Besides, she has no intention of straying too far from the action.
When the wife of wealthy society entrepreneur Leonard Godfrey drops dead of an apparent heart attack at a charity dinner for the new Women and Children’s Hospital, Sarah’s curiosity gets the better of her. But no one will believe in her theory that Caroline Godfrey’s death was not natural---until several more people affiliated with the hospital die of inexplicable causes.
Meanwhile, when a pregnant widow whose husband has died in a sweatshop fire asks for Sarah’s help in finding the owner so that she can sue for recompense, our feisty heroine insists on taking the case against her boss’s orders. With the help of her colleague Robert Campbell and an eager young hansom cabdriver named Eddie, Sarah goes on a manhunt for Killy Doyle, the menacing head of the factory underworld. But she can't ignore the mysterious deaths at the Women and Children’s Hospital---especially when the hospital’s Chinese chef is arrested for the murders and the Chinese community’s most powerful Tong Lord asks her to defend him.
Faced with her first criminal trial, Sarah stops at nothing to determine the killer’s identity. But in trying to exonerate her client, she places her own life in danger. Will Sarah figure out who the murderer is, or will she be the final victim?
When the wife of wealthy society entrepreneur Leonard Godfrey drops dead of an apparent heart attack at a charity dinner for the new Women and Children’s Hospital, Sarah’s curiosity gets the better of her. But no one will believe in her theory that Caroline Godfrey’s death was not natural---until several more people affiliated with the hospital die of inexplicable causes.
Meanwhile, when a pregnant widow whose husband has died in a sweatshop fire asks for Sarah’s help in finding the owner so that she can sue for recompense, our feisty heroine insists on taking the case against her boss’s orders. With the help of her colleague Robert Campbell and an eager young hansom cabdriver named Eddie, Sarah goes on a manhunt for Killy Doyle, the menacing head of the factory underworld. But she can't ignore the mysterious deaths at the Women and Children’s Hospital---especially when the hospital’s Chinese chef is arrested for the murders and the Chinese community’s most powerful Tong Lord asks her to defend him.
Faced with her first criminal trial, Sarah stops at nothing to determine the killer’s identity. But in trying to exonerate her client, she places her own life in danger. Will Sarah figure out who the murderer is, or will she be the final victim?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2005
14 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Tallman
6 books64 followersShirley Tallman is an accomplished screenwriter and author who resides with her husband in Eugene, Oregon. She is currently working on various movie projects and the fourth book in the Sarah Woolson series. "
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 25, 2011
The Russian Hill Murders is a great follow-up to the first book in this entertaining series. I obviously found it engaging and enjoyable, since I read it in one day; I immediately put a hold on the next two books at my library, as I am anxious to see what will happen next in Sarah's life ... and I'll admit, I'm also curious to see which romantic relationship develops into something.
Like Murder on Nob Hill (Book 1), the mystery here is well-done and the historical setting of the story feels very authentic. While the first book really kept me guessing, I did have more of a feeling as to what had happened with this story and didn't find it as interesting as the first mystery. However, it held my attention and everything came together very nicely in the end.
Sarah Woolson, our heroine, continues to be a real spitfire and very opinionated, but while I found her to be a little excessive - and therefore sometimes annoying - in the first book, I thought here she appeared more mature, while still having the right amount of "fire in the belly" and spunk. The secondary cast of characters continues to be interesting, with my favorite being ...
Robert Campbell! He gets his own paragraph because I absolutely love him, lol. Robert is a fellow associate attorney at the firm, as well as a big, loud Scot who often verbally spars with Sarah. By this book, it's clear that he does respect her as an attorney and knows she's intelligent, for which as I was glad, because had he continued to have the same slightly supercilious attitude as in the first book, it would have gotten to be annoying instead of amusing.
While Robert and Sarah still often act as opposing forces, they work very well together in this book and seem to have developed a rhythm to their relationship. Sarah is completely clueless that there might be something more to their friendship, and as it's told in first person, for all I know Robert is just as unaware. With the introduction of Pierce Godfrey, however, who is a rival potential suitor, Robert begins to show something of a jealous side and a definite interest in what might develop between Pierce and Sarah. We all know who I'm rooting for, so I'll leave it at that ... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will be given some indication over the course of the next two books that my guy will (eventually) win out.
Bottom Line
Another entertaining and enjoyable read in this lovely mystery series. While the writing is very simple and straightforward, the characters are engaging, the mystery is interesting, and the story is threaded with humor, so all-in-all I would definitely recommend it. I think it can be read as a stand-alone, but would personally advise that the books be read in order, as I think you'll get more out of the experience that way.
The Sarah Woolson Mystery Series
Book 1 - Murder on Nob Hill (4 stars)
Book 2 - The Russian Hill Murders (4 stars)
Book 3 - The Cliff House Strangler
Book 4 - Scandal on Rincon Hill
Like Murder on Nob Hill (Book 1), the mystery here is well-done and the historical setting of the story feels very authentic. While the first book really kept me guessing, I did have more of a feeling as to what had happened with this story and didn't find it as interesting as the first mystery. However, it held my attention and everything came together very nicely in the end.
Sarah Woolson, our heroine, continues to be a real spitfire and very opinionated, but while I found her to be a little excessive - and therefore sometimes annoying - in the first book, I thought here she appeared more mature, while still having the right amount of "fire in the belly" and spunk. The secondary cast of characters continues to be interesting, with my favorite being ...
Robert Campbell! He gets his own paragraph because I absolutely love him, lol. Robert is a fellow associate attorney at the firm, as well as a big, loud Scot who often verbally spars with Sarah. By this book, it's clear that he does respect her as an attorney and knows she's intelligent, for which as I was glad, because had he continued to have the same slightly supercilious attitude as in the first book, it would have gotten to be annoying instead of amusing.
While Robert and Sarah still often act as opposing forces, they work very well together in this book and seem to have developed a rhythm to their relationship. Sarah is completely clueless that there might be something more to their friendship, and as it's told in first person, for all I know Robert is just as unaware. With the introduction of Pierce Godfrey, however, who is a rival potential suitor, Robert begins to show something of a jealous side and a definite interest in what might develop between Pierce and Sarah. We all know who I'm rooting for, so I'll leave it at that ... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will be given some indication over the course of the next two books that my guy will (eventually) win out.
Bottom Line
Another entertaining and enjoyable read in this lovely mystery series. While the writing is very simple and straightforward, the characters are engaging, the mystery is interesting, and the story is threaded with humor, so all-in-all I would definitely recommend it. I think it can be read as a stand-alone, but would personally advise that the books be read in order, as I think you'll get more out of the experience that way.
The Sarah Woolson Mystery Series
Book 1 - Murder on Nob Hill (4 stars)
Book 2 - The Russian Hill Murders (4 stars)
Book 3 - The Cliff House Strangler
Book 4 - Scandal on Rincon Hill
August 24, 2020
3.5 out of 4 stars
August 19, 2018
The Russian Hill Murders by Shirley Tallman is the second book of the Sarah Woolson mystery series set in 1880s San Francisco. Sarah Woolson is just barely tolerated by her stuffy law firm employers (because she's female). They assign her a heavy burden of paperwork, hoping she will quit out of misery. But Sarah digs in her heels and keeps on pursuing her law career. Her time in the law office is lightened a bit by fellow lawyer Robert Campbell, who is cautiously supportive of Sarah, but even he tries to talk her out of representing the widow of a sweatshop employee.
Sarah and her parents attend a charity benefit dinner at the high-society Godfrey mansion. The event is disrupted by an uninvited guest making threats against the new women's hospital. Shortly after dinner is served, their hostess dies, presumably due to a heart condition. Sarah suspects foul play, but no one believes her.
Pierce Godfrey, wealthy and attractive brother-in-law of the deceased, is impressed by Sarah's assertiveness and willingness to buck tradition. He hires her to be his attorney for a ship-building transaction. Sarah's law firm tries to dissuade Godfrey, but he insists. As they conduct business, he wines and dines her, and Sarah begins falling for his charm.
Murders continue to occur, and Sarah is increasingly convinced they are related. She persistently follows clues (plenty of red herrings) until she begins to learn the ugly truth: high-society friends of her parents are secret backers for criminal activities. She doggedly tracks the killer, regardless of personal danger.
An entertaining read with a well-paced story line. Sarah's a gutsy heroine with compassion and competence. She teams up with an appealing new character Eddie (a street urchin), and legal ally Robert Campbell.
Sarah and her parents attend a charity benefit dinner at the high-society Godfrey mansion. The event is disrupted by an uninvited guest making threats against the new women's hospital. Shortly after dinner is served, their hostess dies, presumably due to a heart condition. Sarah suspects foul play, but no one believes her.
Pierce Godfrey, wealthy and attractive brother-in-law of the deceased, is impressed by Sarah's assertiveness and willingness to buck tradition. He hires her to be his attorney for a ship-building transaction. Sarah's law firm tries to dissuade Godfrey, but he insists. As they conduct business, he wines and dines her, and Sarah begins falling for his charm.
Murders continue to occur, and Sarah is increasingly convinced they are related. She persistently follows clues (plenty of red herrings) until she begins to learn the ugly truth: high-society friends of her parents are secret backers for criminal activities. She doggedly tracks the killer, regardless of personal danger.
An entertaining read with a well-paced story line. Sarah's a gutsy heroine with compassion and competence. She teams up with an appealing new character Eddie (a street urchin), and legal ally Robert Campbell.
April 5, 2015
Having spent some years living in San Francisco and researching the history of the area, I was excited to find a series set in 1880's San Francisco. However, I was troubled to see immediately that the author (or the editors) did not take care to correct certain innaccuracies in the book before mass-producing it (invariably my first pet-peeve in reading historical fiction...) I was taken in, at first, by the author's eloquent writing style, and the well-organized and interesting plot-line. Having not yet read the first novel in the series (it's on hold for me at the library), I did not know the main character well, but the author made her immediately understandable and likeable from the very beginning.
However, in the middle of Chapter Two (and later, many times, throughout the book), when the main character went to "Sansone Street" (instead of the geographically accurate Sansome Street), the author lost my trust for the rest of the book. If she really has lived in the Bay Area for as many years as she has, you would think she would have noticed this error. While the author wrote a cohesive murder mystery (and stumped me at the end), I found myself tolerating the rest, and actually questioning other historical details in the book, once I'd finished it.
It just so happens that there was a very famous female attorney, named Clara Foltz, who was instrumental in the field of law for women, in San Francisco, in the 1870's, and throughout California and the U.S., paving the way for women in law up until her death in 1932; yet, the author makes no mention of Ms. Foltz, leaving her readers to wonder if this could be a plausible scenario. Why make this uphill struggle and then not bother to edit carefully as well?
I believe that if an author is going to embark upon writing an historical novel (let alone a series), he or she must do one's best to be honest and accurate, in order to convince the reader and retain their trust.
I've reserved an additional book in the series ("The Cliff House Strangler"), and have read the first teaser on Ms. Tallman's website, where it indicates the Cliff House was a hotel (and it never was). I'm not thinking very positively at this juncture, but I'll try to suspend my disbelief. After all, she did make her start as a Romance Novelist. ;)
However, in the middle of Chapter Two (and later, many times, throughout the book), when the main character went to "Sansone Street" (instead of the geographically accurate Sansome Street), the author lost my trust for the rest of the book. If she really has lived in the Bay Area for as many years as she has, you would think she would have noticed this error. While the author wrote a cohesive murder mystery (and stumped me at the end), I found myself tolerating the rest, and actually questioning other historical details in the book, once I'd finished it.
It just so happens that there was a very famous female attorney, named Clara Foltz, who was instrumental in the field of law for women, in San Francisco, in the 1870's, and throughout California and the U.S., paving the way for women in law up until her death in 1932; yet, the author makes no mention of Ms. Foltz, leaving her readers to wonder if this could be a plausible scenario. Why make this uphill struggle and then not bother to edit carefully as well?
I believe that if an author is going to embark upon writing an historical novel (let alone a series), he or she must do one's best to be honest and accurate, in order to convince the reader and retain their trust.
I've reserved an additional book in the series ("The Cliff House Strangler"), and have read the first teaser on Ms. Tallman's website, where it indicates the Cliff House was a hotel (and it never was). I'm not thinking very positively at this juncture, but I'll try to suspend my disbelief. After all, she did make her start as a Romance Novelist. ;)
January 11, 2017
This is quickly becoming a new favourite series. I enjoyed this second book even more than I did the first one.
The character of Sarah is definitely a bit on the prickly side, but given that she is trying to buck the social system she lives in by working as an attorney, rather than becoming the wife and mother society said was the only acceptable role for a woman at the time, one can cut her a little slack if she occasionally comes across as snappish and difficult to those trying to force her back into "her place".
I like the sense of place the books give of the San Francisco of the time, and the people who lived there and then. We really feel like we are there through the details of people, places and things.
The investigation of the mystery and murder was entertaining to me. I felt like it was well-constructed and had plenty of ins and outs. I never try to figure things out in advance, so I can't say if there are enough clues provided to allow someone who wishes to do that, but it felt like there was.
I also like the supporting characters in this series. Sarah's family, as well as Campbell, the blustery Scotsman from the lawfirm who is equal parts Sarah's supporter and nemesis, offer plenty of opportunities for fun situations for Sarah to navigate.
I listen to this series on audiobook, and I feel the narrator has the absolutely perfect voice that really brings Sarah especially to full life.
Overall, this is an interesting, enjoyable series that I plan to continue with.
The character of Sarah is definitely a bit on the prickly side, but given that she is trying to buck the social system she lives in by working as an attorney, rather than becoming the wife and mother society said was the only acceptable role for a woman at the time, one can cut her a little slack if she occasionally comes across as snappish and difficult to those trying to force her back into "her place".
I like the sense of place the books give of the San Francisco of the time, and the people who lived there and then. We really feel like we are there through the details of people, places and things.
The investigation of the mystery and murder was entertaining to me. I felt like it was well-constructed and had plenty of ins and outs. I never try to figure things out in advance, so I can't say if there are enough clues provided to allow someone who wishes to do that, but it felt like there was.
I also like the supporting characters in this series. Sarah's family, as well as Campbell, the blustery Scotsman from the lawfirm who is equal parts Sarah's supporter and nemesis, offer plenty of opportunities for fun situations for Sarah to navigate.
I listen to this series on audiobook, and I feel the narrator has the absolutely perfect voice that really brings Sarah especially to full life.
Overall, this is an interesting, enjoyable series that I plan to continue with.
August 25, 2007
THE RUSSIAN HILL MURDERS (Legal Suspense-San Francisco-1880s) – VG
Tallman, Shirley – 2nd in series
St. Martin's Minotaur, 2005- Hardcover
In spite of the pressure to resign from her employer, Sarah Woolson is determined to succeed as one of the few female attorneys. While attending a charity dinner for a Women and Children's Hospital, a wealthy woman dies of an apparent heart attack. Sarah suspects unnatural causes, particularly when others associated with the Hospital also die. The hospital's Chinese cook is accused of murder, and Sarah is asked to defend him. In the meantime, a pregnant widow asks for Sarah's help finding and penalize the owner of a sweatshop in which a fire killer her husband, Sarah agrees.
*** I am so enjoying this series. The story moved right along, kept me interested and wanting to know what was coming. The final courtroom scene was a bit melodramatic, but didn't put me off the book. Tallman has created a smart, feisty character supported by her family but fighting society's norms, and the supporting characters are equally interesting. I eagerly await the next book.
Tallman, Shirley – 2nd in series
St. Martin's Minotaur, 2005- Hardcover
In spite of the pressure to resign from her employer, Sarah Woolson is determined to succeed as one of the few female attorneys. While attending a charity dinner for a Women and Children's Hospital, a wealthy woman dies of an apparent heart attack. Sarah suspects unnatural causes, particularly when others associated with the Hospital also die. The hospital's Chinese cook is accused of murder, and Sarah is asked to defend him. In the meantime, a pregnant widow asks for Sarah's help finding and penalize the owner of a sweatshop in which a fire killer her husband, Sarah agrees.
*** I am so enjoying this series. The story moved right along, kept me interested and wanting to know what was coming. The final courtroom scene was a bit melodramatic, but didn't put me off the book. Tallman has created a smart, feisty character supported by her family but fighting society's norms, and the supporting characters are equally interesting. I eagerly await the next book.
May 14, 2013
Sarah Woolson is one of three women attorneys in California in the 1880′s and the only way she was able to get a job in a San Fransisco law firm was through boldness and a little luck. She is stuck in a closet-sized office doing work for the men in the office when a woman walks in asking for her assistance. As Sarah goes against her boss, with the help of fellow attorney Robert, she also becomes the focus of a sexy man who she later fears could be a murderer. There are two mysteries to solve, one involving the horrible sweatshops of the day, and a little romance for Sarah, who wants no part of it. And Sarah finally gets her day in court defending a Chinese man accused of murder.
I read the first book last month and loved it so much that I had to read the next as soon as my library could get it for me. I liked this one even more than the first. Sarah is a tough cookie, maybe a little too tough to identify with in the first book, but in this one we get to see a bit of her vulnerability. I loved seeing her family again and the mystery was great. I did figure it out before the end, but I really didn’t care.
I read the first book last month and loved it so much that I had to read the next as soon as my library could get it for me. I liked this one even more than the first. Sarah is a tough cookie, maybe a little too tough to identify with in the first book, but in this one we get to see a bit of her vulnerability. I loved seeing her family again and the mystery was great. I did figure it out before the end, but I really didn’t care.
May 5, 2016
I really like this mystery series. It's set in the late 1800's in San Francisco. Sarah is a new attorney in a firm where women are expected to be wives and mothers and not attorneys. At a dinner party fundraiser she is attending, the hostess drops dead in what seems to be a heart attack but what turns out to be murder. As several more people die in what looks like poisonings, Sarah finds herself defending a Chinese man who is just as at odds with society as she is. She and her colleague Robert investigate these suspicious deaths in a race against time to try to prove her client innocent.
I really like this mystery series. Looking forward to reading the third book.
I really like this mystery series. Looking forward to reading the third book.
August 1, 2007
Read this by accident. It was on my parents' bookshelf so I thought it would be good (they tend to have good books). Turns out the author is from their hometown, so that's why they had it. It's not crap, but it was kind of a throwaway read. Sort of like Nancy Drew all grown up, but living in turn of the century San Francisco.
November 6, 2018
This is the second book in the series. Sarah is struggling to keep going at the law firm, where she is given the worst tasks as an associate, including typing and cleaning. In her personal life, she attends a charity dinner for the Women and Children’s hospital and is stunned when Caroline, on the committee for the hospital, and hostess of the event, dies at the dinner, of an apparent heart attack. Sarah has her suspicions, and after several other events, is convinced that there is a plot involving the hospital in some way. Along the way, she takes on the case of a pregnant widow whose husband died in a sweatshop fire, and helps the woman find lodgings at the hospital, working as a nurse’s aide. While this investigation seems unrelated, things begin to get more complex after further deaths and an unusual and compelling request for her to defend a Chinese chef accused of the murders by the Tong lord she met in the prior book. Caroline has her hands full, but she has help Robert, and a young driver, Eddie to help her. She also has a possible new suitor, who has asked her to represent his business interest in shipping, but Sarah begins to question his motives. This was an interesting addition to the series and sets up further adventures for Sarah.
August 25, 2017
I love the two books by Shirley Tallman that I have read so far. Sarah is quite the spirited female that will not let anything alone. The thing that I like about her character is that once she gets something in her head, she doesn't let it go. She just keeps looking for ways to help people solve their problems.
There are so many different story lines that you wonder sometimes where you are going, but Ms Tallman does tie everything together nicely in the end.
I am giving this one 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read the next in the series.
There are so many different story lines that you wonder sometimes where you are going, but Ms Tallman does tie everything together nicely in the end.
I am giving this one 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read the next in the series.
September 14, 2019
I love these books. This one is a mystery that takes so many turns its hard to keep up. Sarah almost dies when she announces the killer in open court, goads her to confess all, and then collapses. The end is harrowing and breath taking. She then gets a visit, and payment, from the Chinese leader no one usually sees, then gets a marriage proposal surprise, then quits the attorney office shocking the boss, then opens her own office. She's a pistol and I really like her.
September 20, 2019
19th century female lawyers are kind of my catnip, so of course I thoroughly enjoyed this. Clever mystery plotting and Sarah is an appealing protagonist. I found myself tempted, at times, to do a running count of how many times Sarah was told that women couldn't practice law, but her determination was admirable.
August 30, 2021
Solid sequel that runs along the lines of Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mysteries. It’s an enjoyable & quick read for those folks that enjoy female protagonists of historical fiction novels that do not include bodice ripping.
March 25, 2025
Another great installment in this series. I have a feeling that this series will have slow burn romance element eventually. I like the writing style. The story development is good, as always. I liked this installment even more than the first.
May 8, 2017
Robert is a pain in the.... He doesn't help because he is a good person. However, the addition of Eddie is delightful.
July 29, 2017
One of the first lady lawyers in California works to sue for damages for deaths in a sweat shop fire
August 24, 2017
These books are great!
Sarah is a brave and competent woman, just starting out as a female lawyer in a very male-dominated profession and era.
You go, girl!
Sarah is a brave and competent woman, just starting out as a female lawyer in a very male-dominated profession and era.
You go, girl!
April 6, 2019
Excellent!! Very well written and kept in place to finish this story. 😄
April 30, 2020
Good read. Very Interesting.
March 18, 2021
Some unintentionally problematic tropes undercut this otherwise amusing detective story set in pre-earthquake SF.
April 13, 2024
A good mystery, with an engaging protagonist. I liked the fact that the cases involved justice for victims of a sweatshop fire and a hospital for women.
June 28, 2025
Fun with lots of historical references.
August 22, 2024
A fun second murder mystery set in 1880s San Francisco. Sarah is one of the first female attorneys and meets interesting characters while trying to solve crimes.
June 10, 2019
Feisty San Francisco attorney Sarah Woolson is in a pitched battle with the ‘old boy’ law office where she works. Her boss, horrified that a female could aspire to the law profession constantly finds new busywork, coffee cup cleaning and typing projects for Sarah.
This 27-year-old defies conventional life -- her mom wants her to settle down, Sarah wants action. Sarah gets her wish when Caroline Godfrey, wealthy socialite and supporter of the new Women and Children’s Hospital, drops dead at a charity dinner.
Sarah is troubled by this death; blood tests indicate that Caroline had taken too much of her nitroglycerine for her heart ailment. Sarah’s unease grows more serious when other people, related to the new hospital, die.
There’s another plot afoot; a pregnant widow comes to see Sarah, hoping for help. Her husband, along with 4 others, died in a sweatshop fire. She asks Sarah to sue to help her take care of her (soon to be) 3 children. The problem is that the building ownership is not easy to discover; the laws (and dangerous thugs) seem to protect the sweatshop owners.
Of course, the prestigious law office where Sarah works decry the very idea of helping the poverty-stricken mother and children. Sarah, along with her pair of wily confederates (Scottish attorney Robert Campbell and young hansom cab driver Eddie) pursue both problems.
If the law firm was upset about the widow’s case, they move into a high boil over Sarah daring to take a criminal court case. (In Great Britain it could take 15 years for a young male solicitor to get to be first chair in a criminal trial.)
The hospital’s Chinese chef is blamed, but Chinatown’s most powerful tong lord insists that Sarah personally defend the very-difficult chef. Readers will need to keep a scorecard to stay abreast of the possible murderers – as Sarah, Eddie and Robert try to solve the case.
The action moves at a fast clip and bodies drop like flies. Robert, with his strong Scottish brogue, is a hoot. He constantly reminds Sarah of what she cannot do -- which prods her to prove him wrong. Sarah, Eddie and Robert are delightful.
Sarah Woolson Mysteries
1. Murder on Nob Hill (2004)
2. The Russian Hill Murders (2005)
3. The Cliff House Strangler (2007)
4. Scandal on Rincon Hill (2010)
5. Death on Telegraph Hill (2012)
This 27-year-old defies conventional life -- her mom wants her to settle down, Sarah wants action. Sarah gets her wish when Caroline Godfrey, wealthy socialite and supporter of the new Women and Children’s Hospital, drops dead at a charity dinner.
Sarah is troubled by this death; blood tests indicate that Caroline had taken too much of her nitroglycerine for her heart ailment. Sarah’s unease grows more serious when other people, related to the new hospital, die.
There’s another plot afoot; a pregnant widow comes to see Sarah, hoping for help. Her husband, along with 4 others, died in a sweatshop fire. She asks Sarah to sue to help her take care of her (soon to be) 3 children. The problem is that the building ownership is not easy to discover; the laws (and dangerous thugs) seem to protect the sweatshop owners.
Of course, the prestigious law office where Sarah works decry the very idea of helping the poverty-stricken mother and children. Sarah, along with her pair of wily confederates (Scottish attorney Robert Campbell and young hansom cab driver Eddie) pursue both problems.
If the law firm was upset about the widow’s case, they move into a high boil over Sarah daring to take a criminal court case. (In Great Britain it could take 15 years for a young male solicitor to get to be first chair in a criminal trial.)
The hospital’s Chinese chef is blamed, but Chinatown’s most powerful tong lord insists that Sarah personally defend the very-difficult chef. Readers will need to keep a scorecard to stay abreast of the possible murderers – as Sarah, Eddie and Robert try to solve the case.
The action moves at a fast clip and bodies drop like flies. Robert, with his strong Scottish brogue, is a hoot. He constantly reminds Sarah of what she cannot do -- which prods her to prove him wrong. Sarah, Eddie and Robert are delightful.
Sarah Woolson Mysteries
1. Murder on Nob Hill (2004)
2. The Russian Hill Murders (2005)
3. The Cliff House Strangler (2007)
4. Scandal on Rincon Hill (2010)
5. Death on Telegraph Hill (2012)
September 14, 2014
My Amazon review:
This is the second Sarah Woolson mystery of the series. Overall, the mystery was well told and the story was engaging. Sarah Woolson is a great feminist sleuth and her family is drawn well. It was nice to see her father, a judge, more involved with helping her solve the case in this book.
I have a few issues with the book. The character of Robert basically did not evolve at all in the second book. Given his involvement with helping Sarah solve the case in the first book, it would have been much more realistic for him to have more faith in her abilities and at some point stop being the naysayer, but he continued in exactly the same way as he had in Book 1. There was a great potential for him to evolve but it didn't happen here.
Also, although the book was well-written overall, there were stylistic issues (such as being told the reactions of the characters when they were obvious) and the last courtroom scene was a little too melodramatic to be totally believable. There was also a bit more melodrama in this book than in Book 1, a kind of "all the cards stacked against Sarah" type of melodrama that simply wouldn't have been realistic, even in the Victorian era.
In addition, while the author does a nice job of depicting old San Francisco, it's almost as if she weren't as meticulous in trying to tell the story in a way that would have depicted the era she was writing about (late 19th century) as she was in the first book. In Book 1, I felt as if the book could have almost been written during the 19th century, right alongside Anna Katherine Green and others because the tone and expressions and word choices used were authentic. I've read a lot of 19th century novels and nonfiction, so I'm in tune with how the writing was and what expressions people would have used. It just didn't come off as authentically in this book, so that I felt at times that it was a 19th century story being told with 21st century expressions. At one point, the author used an expression in a context that I doubted would have been in existence in the 19th century and, sure enough, when I researched it, I discovered that the expression in that context did not come about until 30 years after this book was set.
The characters and stories will keep me reading this series, though.
This is the second Sarah Woolson mystery of the series. Overall, the mystery was well told and the story was engaging. Sarah Woolson is a great feminist sleuth and her family is drawn well. It was nice to see her father, a judge, more involved with helping her solve the case in this book.
I have a few issues with the book. The character of Robert basically did not evolve at all in the second book. Given his involvement with helping Sarah solve the case in the first book, it would have been much more realistic for him to have more faith in her abilities and at some point stop being the naysayer, but he continued in exactly the same way as he had in Book 1. There was a great potential for him to evolve but it didn't happen here.
Also, although the book was well-written overall, there were stylistic issues (such as being told the reactions of the characters when they were obvious) and the last courtroom scene was a little too melodramatic to be totally believable. There was also a bit more melodrama in this book than in Book 1, a kind of "all the cards stacked against Sarah" type of melodrama that simply wouldn't have been realistic, even in the Victorian era.
In addition, while the author does a nice job of depicting old San Francisco, it's almost as if she weren't as meticulous in trying to tell the story in a way that would have depicted the era she was writing about (late 19th century) as she was in the first book. In Book 1, I felt as if the book could have almost been written during the 19th century, right alongside Anna Katherine Green and others because the tone and expressions and word choices used were authentic. I've read a lot of 19th century novels and nonfiction, so I'm in tune with how the writing was and what expressions people would have used. It just didn't come off as authentically in this book, so that I felt at times that it was a 19th century story being told with 21st century expressions. At one point, the author used an expression in a context that I doubted would have been in existence in the 19th century and, sure enough, when I researched it, I discovered that the expression in that context did not come about until 30 years after this book was set.
The characters and stories will keep me reading this series, though.
June 11, 2017
I quite enjoyed the first book in this series but I became very frustrated reading this book. It wasn’t until near the end that things improved but for three quarters of the book I nearly gave up on several occasions.
There are several things that annoyed me; perhaps most importantly Sarah doesn’t seem to have developed since the first book. We don’t get to know much more about her life, how she is taking steps to improve her situation or prospects, instead for most of the book she has allowed herself to be treated with contempt by her employer and makes very little effort to do anything about it.
Also she is supposed to be a highly intelligent women who has had ample evidence of how violent nineteenth century San Francisco can be, yet she still walks into dangerous situations without any thought of how she is going to defender herself. If the author wants her to be an investigating attorney why isn’t she giving her the tools to do the job? How can the author expect us to believe in her writing if she keeps telling us Sarah is intelligent then writes stories that make her appear extremely stupid?
And why does she persist with the bigoted rants of Robert Andrews, how is it believable that any sane person would put up with the constant chauvinistic, condescending and insufferable behaviour without telling him to ‘get lost’.
The last quarter of the book was better and Sarah takes more control but it seems she still hasn’t got rid of Robert.
There are several things that annoyed me; perhaps most importantly Sarah doesn’t seem to have developed since the first book. We don’t get to know much more about her life, how she is taking steps to improve her situation or prospects, instead for most of the book she has allowed herself to be treated with contempt by her employer and makes very little effort to do anything about it.
Also she is supposed to be a highly intelligent women who has had ample evidence of how violent nineteenth century San Francisco can be, yet she still walks into dangerous situations without any thought of how she is going to defender herself. If the author wants her to be an investigating attorney why isn’t she giving her the tools to do the job? How can the author expect us to believe in her writing if she keeps telling us Sarah is intelligent then writes stories that make her appear extremely stupid?
And why does she persist with the bigoted rants of Robert Andrews, how is it believable that any sane person would put up with the constant chauvinistic, condescending and insufferable behaviour without telling him to ‘get lost’.
The last quarter of the book was better and Sarah takes more control but it seems she still hasn’t got rid of Robert.
April 16, 2011
This series, set in 1890's San Francisco, rivets my attention. I like the way that Tallman incorporates history of San Francisco into the story line. The series is about a female attorney, which is very unusual during this period. During the time in San Francisco, only one female had actually passed the bar and started practicing law. Sarah Woolson received her first trial in the case of a Chinese cook accused of murdering 2 people. Tallman shows all the prejudice among the white, male jury and courtroom when Sarah, a woman, tries to defend Chin, the Chinese cook. Tallman also goes on her soapbox about the sweatshops that are secretly owned and used to exploit the poor. I enjoy Tallman for the journey into San Francisco of yesterday and the glimpse of the changing times that machinery brings.
August 31, 2011
I picked up this book at the library, because it's set in San Francisco. It's the second in the series, but they went over what happened enough that i didn't feel lost at all. This was the 1880s, and it was interesting to read what's changed in SF, and what's the same. I didn't know there was a zoo in the Mission!! So much is also very the same though. I totally recognized the city! The story itself is about a female lawyer, which i didn't know existed back then (maybe they didnt and this was made up for the book?) who is struggling in an all male law firm, and against society's conventions. Her family is involved in starting a new hospital, lots of fundraising (just like now), but then murders happen, and she's trying to help solve them. Basic historical mystery that i would read more of!
January 25, 2016
The main draw for me to this series is the setting: turn of the century San Francisco. It's a little change of pace from most of the historicals I read, which are usually British. Sarah Woolson is San Francisco's first female lawyer, and this series tracks her early career.
The mystery itself is pretty good, and the characters are all enjoyable. Though the (many) men she encounters who feel women are best suited to home and hearth are usually portrayed as comically pompous blowhards sputtering "but...you're a woman!", which gets a little old.
At the end of this second book, I was pleasantly surprised that Sarah made a significant career move, which gives me hope for the long-term story arc - I'm interested in seeing her character grow and develop over time.
The mystery itself is pretty good, and the characters are all enjoyable. Though the (many) men she encounters who feel women are best suited to home and hearth are usually portrayed as comically pompous blowhards sputtering "but...you're a woman!", which gets a little old.
At the end of this second book, I was pleasantly surprised that Sarah made a significant career move, which gives me hope for the long-term story arc - I'm interested in seeing her character grow and develop over time.
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