Lacrime innocenti

Molly Murphy #11

by Rhys Bowen, Marilena Caselli (Translator)

Guai in vista per Molly Murphy, invitata con il novello sposo Daniel, capitano della polizia di New York, a trascorrere la luna di miele nella tenuta di un pezzo grosso. In realtà l'ospite, Brian Hannan, intende sottoporre al poliziotto un problema che lo assilla, ma si verificano due impedimenti. Primo, Daniel viene messo fuori combattimento da una brutta infreddatura. Secondo, Hannan viene trovato morto ai piedi della scogliera a picco sull'oceano. È caduto, dicono i familiari riuniti nella residenza: un tragico incidente. È stato spinto, pensa Molly, costretta dalle circostanze a vestire nuovamente i panni della detective privata, nonostante la promessa al marito di dedicarsi alla vita coniugale. Qualcuno, insomma, tra le persone con cui condivide la non più lieta permanenza nella ridente cittadina costiera, ha le mani sporche di sangue. Del resto già all'arrivo era stata accolta da un presagio nefasto. In una notte tempestosa, alla luce dei lampi, aveva scorto dietro una finestra della villa il volto di una bambina che rideva. Peccato che il posto fosse deserto, e che la bambina in questione risulti defunta qualche anno prima...

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

I'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.

I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.

My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.

I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.

I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries

Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law

Reviews

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel: Don't go poking your nose into this murder, Molly. Remember, you gave up your detective business to marry me.

Molly: Yes, but you're sick so I'm going to investigate anyway.

Daniel's mother: Have some more chicken and dumplings, Daniel. You have to get your strength back.

Gus and Sid: Here we are to help Molly and add some comic relief!

Local police: Bungle, bungle, bungle.

Victim's family, servants, and business associates: Obstruct, obstruct, obstruct.

Mystery: Throw off vague clues; then unravel all at once at the very end.

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one started out a little slower perhaps because Molly and Daniel are on their honeymoon and invited to a cottage at Newport. The situation there is very strange but as usual Molly figures out things as no one else could ever manage. She has amazing intuition.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 1903 finds newlyweds Molly Murphy Sullivan and Daniel Sullivan arriving in a rainstorm at the cottage, what the rich call a mansion, in Newport, Rhode Island. Alderman Brian Hannan has offered the use of an actual cottage next to the mansion as a delayed honeymoon destination for the couple, their original honeymoon being interrupted by Daniel's call back to New York City on pressing case. While the start to this delayed honeymoon was rough with the rain and sleeping in a barn until they could gain access to their intended abode, Molly and Daniel are delighted to have a quiet place in beautiful surroundings, the ocean at their doorstep, to enjoy the benefits of their recent marriage. Not so fast.

Before Daniel can say, "What am I going to do with you, Molly," the alderman's family, consisting of his children,his grandchildren, his siblings and some of their children, and assorted servants descend upon the mansion for an out-of-season stay at their Newport summer home. Neither the Sullivans or the Hannans are happy to see each other, and neither side knows exactly why they are all gathered there together. They all await the arrival of Alderman Hannan to explain. Unfortunately, he is unable to enlighten them; he is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Daniel isn't impressed with the police chief that takes charge of the investigation into the death, but before Daniel can insert himself into the proceedings, he comes down with a nasty cold, due to their soaking the night of their arrival. Molly has promised her new husband that she is out of the detective business, but what's a girl to do when there's detecting to do and the official detective is down and out? She does what Molly always does, makes sure justice is sought and served.

Molly's sense of the fey seems to be on full alert in this setting of drafty mansions and mysterious deaths. Sure that she saw the face of a child in the turret of the mansion on the night she and Daniel arrived and feeling cold spots in the large abode itself, Molly is not completely surprised to learn of a child's death at the same spot on the cliffs where the child's grandfather, Brian Hannan, met his death. Are the two deaths related? Are there ghosts trying to communicate? Is someone in the Hannan family keeping dark secrets that must be protected? With Daniel incapacitated, Molly stands alone to discover why Alderman Brian Hannan assembled the different parties together, how it resulted in his death, and who is killing to ensure secrets stay buried.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly Murphy mysteries are comfort reading for me: light and funny coupled with historical NYC and women rights. They’re perfect for when life’s too busy and one just wants to relax after a hard day of work before going to sleep.

Hush now, don’t you cry was no different, though maybe a bit less entertaining than previous ones. I think my most favourite parts were the historical treatment of pneumonia back in the early 19th century. And I loved how Molly, of course, ignored the doctor’s advice by giving Aspirin and cooling the patient down The murder mystery did not really grab me this time, but it was nice to re-visit these wonderful characters.

[dianne b. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, easy mystery set in fin de siècle New England with newlywed Irish NY City policeman and Molly Sullivan nee Murphy, (our feisty detective) off for what they thought would be a lovely honeymoon in a Newport Cottage. But NO!! A murdered Alderman, a bit of anti-Irish and anti-nouveau riche prejudice (as if there were any OLD money in Newport!) and a fine story.

Nothing that rocked my world. Some interesting characters and fun plot twists; just what i needed for a cold Uruguayan day to accompany my sniffles, broth and a fine roaring fire. A cup of mild tea.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Sullivan receives an invitation to use a guest cottage in Newport for his honeymoon with Molly. The Sullivans are delaye and arrive in a thumderstorm as result Daniel becomes ill. The owner is found murder similar tothe way his granddaughter died. Historically this book is accurate; however it is predictable.The first time I have read one of Ms Bowen's books I already started the next in the series.

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES! Yes! Yes! Wonderful, absolutely unbelievably wonderful. Well well well. My, my, my. See, Dame Agatha Christie? This is how a mansion murder should be like. She must be going green with envy in her grave, among other things. Rhys Bowen has overachieved. Or, I hereby suspect, this book is just for me. It affects me deeply. It rivals the best anime episodes for emotion, feel good factor, and involvement.

There are characters, and then there are characters, like in this story. The main character here is the setting. The Newport pseudo castle plays an important role. It serves to enhance the cruelty and pathos of dramatic events. It isolates the suspects from the outside world, nursing the murderer, camouflaging him/her blending the criminal among the innocent. The decor and the murder play against each other like seasoned thespians until the effects snowball against each other and the next chapter can't come quickly enough.

I thought it was a pity that the ending was so upbeat. Don't read me wrong, I liked and expected the happy finale. Only I cannot forget my shock when I believed Someone has died. I can never forget that. It would have been beyond daring had the scribe thwarted her genre's conventions and given us a cruel parting shot. It would have been Faustian to the point of overshadowing Goethe himself. Rhys Bowen has her cake and eats it. I daresay there are many capable authors who take on the tragic death of children, of surviving twins, of a macabre past and a ruined present. I know how undertaking such a task can be foolhardy. So all the more praise should go to this particular book's author. Well done! My first five star to the Molly Murphy series. About time too.

[Cheryl A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been following Molly Murphy since she stepped off the boat from Ireland. I usually throughly enjoy the antics of this strong independent character, but found it an uphill battle this time, due to a couple of "oops" from the publisher. Call me anal, but if it's spring of 1904 in the blurb and the victims' name is Hanna, it should probably be 1904, not fall of 1903 and the victim should be Hanna, not Hannan. Not to mention Molly sporting 1910's fashions on the cover!!

Having said that, once I got past this, it was an enjoyable read. Newly wed Molly and her husband, police detective Daniel Sullivan have been invited to stay in the Newport cottage of New York Alderman Brian Hannan, who wants Daniel to check into something for him. Unfortunately, the extended Hannan family has also been "invited" by the family patriarch to appear at the summer cottage in October, something unheard of in polite Newport Society. Matters quickly become extremely complicated when Hannah is discovered dead at the foot of the cliffs and his death is determined to be murder. With Daniel laid up in bed due to a chill caught in a storm the night of their arrival, it is up to Molly to make sure that justice is served.

With it's setting in Newport instead of New York, this installment didn't quite ring as true as most of the others in the series. It was missing some of the cultural and social issues that author Rhys Bowen usually adds into her Molly Murphy mysteries and I hope that the next will bring the Molly and Daniel back to New York.

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better ones

I really liked this one! Molly properly investigates and makes reasonable and logical conclusions. There needs to be trigger warnings, though, for child murder and another (spoilery) thing.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm tearing through this series and loving each book! The only thing slowing me down is waiting for the books to be available at the library. (If I had scads of funds, I'd buy the titles!)

[Katra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Molly Murphy mystery. I know, I know, I'm jumping in mid-stream. I found her new husband annoyingly constraining. I know; it was the times, still. . . and I wish I'd had a little more foreshadowing of the actual culprit. Still, a fun, fast read.

p-s, s-n, v-s

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good entry in the Molly Murphy (Sullivan) series as she and Daniel visit Newport, Rhode Island on their honeymoon. Naturally a murder occurs, and when Daniel becomes ill, Molly investigates on the sly. Good fun, although I figured out who performed the dastardly deed almost from the beginning. Recommended.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Murphy Sullivan has finally married the love of her life, something she was never sure would ever happen. Unfortunately, during their honeymoon, her husband, Daniel, a New York City police detective, gets called back to the city to investigate a tunnel collapse. When Alderman Brian Hannan, whose company is building the underground subway system, hears that Daniel was called away from his honeymoon due to the collapse he offers Brian and Molly the use of a guest cottage on his Newport, Rhode Island estate. Daniel accepts but also feels that there must be more to the offer. Hannan has left him with very little clue about this, but it becomes evident that there must be another reason. When Molly and Daniel arrive at the estate, they also find out that the entire Hannan family are to arrive at the estate the next day, including Alderman Hannan himself, something unheard of from the Newport elite in October. Molly's Irish (and private detective) feelings are on edge from the moment they arrive. She can't help but sense some sort of darkness surrounding the house and the family. Things go from weird to worse starting with Molly spotting a figure in an unfinished tower and hitting its height when Alderman Hannan is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the exact same spot that claimed the death of another family member. Molly can't help but think there is more going on in this family and with these deaths than meets the eye. She knows that she has promised Daniel to give up her sleuthing business now that they are married, but with a bumbling local detective and her husband unable to assist the investigation, Molly can't help but take it on herself, despite everyone's protestations. Can Molly solve the crime before another member of the Hannan family falls victim, or will Molly herself become the killer's next target?

A very good book slightly reminiscent of the style of Agatha Christie. A smooth read that incorporates the language and mannerisms of the early 20th century without feeling forced or overriding the plot. The attention to detail without the modern in-your-face revelation of clues is a breath of fresh air. The only complaint I really have is the ending. After a very well written and laid out plot, the ending seems to completely fizzle with a quick and simple admission of guilt from the killer and a complete wrap up with a happy ending for all, all taking place within about five pages. This quick and breezy ending is a sharp contrast to the rest of the story and seems like an anti-climactic cop-out. I wish the author had given the same attention to detail and put the same heartfelt effort into the ending as she did the rest of the story. If she had, I'd have definitely given this book five stars, but as it is I can only give it a four star review.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me guessing

Another good Molly Murphy mystery! I liked how Molly had to solve this one with the help of a friend. Usually Captain Sullivan comes to her rescue but this one has a different spin on the ending.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting behind in writing down the books I am reading. Read this in the past week. Very good Molly Murphy, now Molly Sullivan, married to her love, Daniel the Captain of police.

[Ангелина · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bowen becomes better and better 🤩 this was one of the best stories in the series and I really enjoyed reading it.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleventh in the Molly Murphy mystery series set in the early 20th century. This story is set in the spring of 1904 in Newport, Rhode Island.


My Take
Between Daniel's job and Molly's proclivities, I doubt the two of them will ever experience a vacation without drama.

Interesting to read about fingerprints still being a novelty and aspirin one of those newfangled medicines!

Bowen has set up a series of complex layers that all intertwine and play off each other and still be a surface read. A few surprises, but most of the events are expected. No, I don't mean clichéd, simply nothing too out of the ordinary.

A fun read, but no real depth.


The Story
Molly and her captain are trying...again...to have a honeymoon. This one is courtesy of Alderman Hannan with an invitation to spend time at a guest cottage on the grounds of his Newport cottage. And it seems that Hannan has an ulterior motive for this invite.

But fate steps in and continues to prevent that honeymoon when Daniel gets deathly sick and there's a murder. One that may be connected to Brian Hannan's granddaughter's death years earlier.

It's ghosts and irate family members desperate to kick Molly and Daniel off the estate even as Molly snoops and sneaks her way about uncovering secrets that should never have been hidden.


The Characters
Molly Murphy is recently wed to her love, but they are a couple still in a state of negotiation whether they acknowledge it or not. Detecting is in Molly's blood and I can't imagine that Daniel will be able to scrub it out! Captain Daniel Sullivan is with the New York Police Department and one of those rare cops (in that time period) who is clean. He's a typical cop. Has to have visible proof before he will believe. Augusta "Gus" Walcott is one of the Boston Walcotts. She and her partner, Elena "Sid" Goldfarb, are Molly's neighbors and friends back in New York and they show up in Newport to support Molly through Daniel's illness. Dr. Birnbaum is Molly's friend and an alienist whom Molly asks to examine young Kathleen.

Alderman Brian Hannan is with Tammany Hall while his construction company is building the New York subway system. Mrs. McCreedy is his housekeeper in Newport with an even more important task. Patrick, Joseph, and Mary are his siblings. Patrick is a priest. Irene is Brian's daughter and married to Archie Van Horn with two sons, the very mischievous Thomas and Alexander. Her daughter, Colleen, died years ago in a fall.

Joseph Hannan is Brian's partner in the construction business with a penchant for the ladies. His son Terrence works in the office, but spends more time doing drugs, embezzling, running up gambling debts, and generally, playing the rich boy. Eliza is his sister.

Mary née Hannan Flannery is present with her grandson Samuel McCloskey, a young enough lad in trouble with gangs whom Brian took in to get away from their influence.

Chief Prescott is with the Newport Police. More of a "who you know" appointment than one who actually knows what he's doing. And determined not to accept the help of a possible suspect! Ned Turnbull is a local artist who had painted Colleen a short while before she died. Miss Catherine Swan Gallinger is the nosy across-the-street neighbor. Too bad the cops never thought to chat with her!


The Cover
The cover is photographic with the newly wed Molly Murphy Sullivan standing on the sea wall in Newport, one of the "cottages" in the background.

It's a sad tale of appearances and madness that certainly inspires Gus to cradle and comfort with a Hush Now, Don't You Cry.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Murphy is celebrating the fact that she’s now Mrs. Molly Sullivan, and wedded to the man of her dreams. Daniel Sullivan is a New York Police Captain. What he wants more than anything is for his wife to give up the world of investigation now that they’re married. And, wanting to be a good wife, Molly has promised that her P.I. days are over.

Daniel decides that it’s time for the honeymoon they never had, and takes an offer from Alderman Brian Hanna to stay in the cottage on his Newport estate. Getting to the location and finding themselves smack dab in the middle of a nor’easter, the Sullivan’s practically get washed away with the storm as they race toward the mammoth castle. A location that will not be secluded by any means.

The entire Hanna family is about to descend because the head of their household has called them all there for the weekend. Molly soon finds out that her new husband knows all about this, as he tells her that the alderman wanted him there for his ‘opinion’ when he exposed some apparent secret.

Because of the storm, Daniel Sullivan ends up in bed extremely sick. While he battles pneumonia, the alderman is killed; his body found at the bottom of a Cliffside in the Atlantic. Although Molly promised she wouldn’t investigate, the family and their secrets seem to draw her in. She must not only figure out the back story behind every family member, but also try to understand why she sees a child in the turret of the mansion, laughing maniacally.

This huge home in Newport set among the wealthy 400 Club, and this ‘crazy’ family is written perfectly. You can almost smell the salt in the sea breeze as Molly finds herself running amok between three brothers who run the spectrum of playboy to angry business partner; a woman who’s still reeling from the death of a child who met her fate at the bottom of the same cliffs that the alderman did; and a household staff hiding a huge secret. Is this Irish clan helping Molly find the killer, or is there a traitor in their midst? A truly invigorating tale!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say a lot bad about this book although Daniel's continual insistence that Molly give up being a nosy, interfering sleuth is starting to ring false. On one hand, I can understand his nervousness and worry about her safety, but he has to know by now the kind of woman he married. This time they are at least trying to have a belated honeymoon at a luxurious mansion in Newport. Of course things couldn't go smoothly and from the start it was one disaster after the other--storms, serious illness, three murders--the usual Molly Murphy brouhaha. As usual, this was an easy and enjoyable read and the reason it took so long to get through was not the book's fault but the other distractions in my life. I do wish, though, that sometimes the author wouldn't keep pushing the agenda that Molly and her actions are "ahead of her time" or some sort of rebellion against the restrictions of her (repressive) society or point in history. I don't mind Molly being feisty or stubborn or acting out of the ordinary but for the author to keep underlining it:She knew that (whichever man) didn't expect a woman to act that way, or didn't approve of a woman acting this way....for example. Yeah, yeah, we get it. Aren't we lucky to be living in such a more open society and wasn't it awful for women back then? Blah. Blah. Hey, I just talked myself into giving it one less star just because I'm sick of that kind of author insertion. Note to the author for the future: if you want to write about a certain historical period, write within that time frame. Don't keep pushing anachronistic attitudes or actions to prove a point to the reader. We're not dumb. We can make up our own mind about things, good or bad in history.

[Kristi Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book number 11 in a good detective series. I enjoy the writing, the humor, the history and mystery.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Sullivan (nee Murphy) finally gets her honeymoon, but if anyone thought she'd go somewhere and not have a murder on her hands--well, that reader doesn't know the Molly Murphy series. (This is the 11th title.) She and Captain Daniel Sullivan have been invited to stay in the guest cottage at Alderman Hannan's opulent estate in Newport, RI. What a treat! Except that Hannan's also invited his entire family to the estate (which is really not done in October, according to society norms). Worse still, Hannan's body is found dead below the cliff--before anyone in the family ever saw him arrive. Well, someone saw him, right? Murder indeed--just a great little historical escape with plenty of insights into 1904 New York society and Newport, too. Molly's supposed to give up detecting since she's married Daniel, but since he's gotten himself sick, she just HAS to dig in and find out what's wrong with this family. Enjoy! Bowen does a nice job of filling in the backstory, so readers don't have to be totally familiar with the series.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oct 8, 1903 - Molly and Daniel are married and finally get away for a honeymoon in Newport, Rhode Island, in a cottage in the estate of a recently elected Alderman who is new money to Newport. Within 24 hours of arriving at the place the locals call a “haunted castle”, in a blinding nor’easter and spending the night in a barn, Molly and Daniel are embroiled in the murder of the Alderman who invited them. Daniel gets ill with pneumonia and almost dies, and Molly’s sense of justice and the glimpse of a face in the tower window upon arrival at Connemara reads like an American Agatha Christie novel.

While carrying f0r her almost dying new husband, and sending telegrams to Daniel s mother and her dear friends Gus and Sid because of Daniels near death, Molly can’t shake her investigative ways and the feeling that nothing is quite right at the estate and by the end of this tale, she us proven right. Thus was prolly one of the best in the series so far...

[Thenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mystery for Molly Murphy, now Molly Sullivan.

Her delayed honeymoon trip with Daniel doesn't start all that well and it doesn't really improve, with a storm, an illness, a murder and a past secret ruining the couple's plans.

Of course Molly can't help but try to look for the truth and solve the mysteries she stumbles upon and for some reason there were parts in this book where she annoyed me a bit, as did, once again, Daniel's high-handedness.

I wonder how she will deal with life as a married woman, away from excitement and mysteries. I'm guessing not very well, but I'm sure I'll find out in the short story that follows next, The Face in the Mirror.

[Erin Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the first times in the series that I'm not completely disgusted with Daniel Sullivan, and maybe it's only because he's deathly ill and not up to his normal, condescending self. This book reminds me of a mixture of The Secret Garden and The Lamorna Wink.
I finally feel like we are back to the Molly Murphy that we fell for in the beginning...her solving mysteries is because of her good-hearted nature, and not just because she's being nosy or thumbing her nose at the patriarchy.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly and Daniel are off on their honeymoon, but their dream trip to Newport turns bad when Daniel gets sick and the family of the estate where they are staying shows up. And that's before the body appears. I always enjoy spending time with Molly, and sickness certainly softened Daniel. But I felt the climax to the mystery was weak.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Another series, Molly Murphy that I follow. Love the characters and the history. This one includes a wealthy estate that may or not be haunted, a mystery concerning twins and a few other twists and turns. Also set against the corruption of Tammany politics and the Eastman Brothers along with the suffragette women's movement.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great splash into early 1900's New York! These 'Molly Murphy' mysteries offer a good dose of mystery & history. I always enjoy seeing how she 'delicately' (or not so delicately!) gets herself tangled into a predicament...& then works her way out of it! A very good series!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marriage doesn't slow down Molly. Yet another wonderful Molly Murphy mystery!

[Diana Conner-Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this series!

[Clara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was much better than the previous books in her series. The pacing was good, and the plot was decent, which is why I'm giving it two stars.
However, as usual, there are several elements that don't make sense and/or detract from the story.
The first problem is her disparagement of men. While I enjoy lead female characters, Rhys Bowen takes it too far and makes it seem as if all men are incompetent. The second problem is her indecisiveness with her characters personalities. Primarily involving the country police chief. For a long time I was uncertain as to whether he was incompetent yet kind, or just overbearing. His character changed several times, which made him very confusing. This happened with several other characters including Mrs. McCreedy, Irene, Archie, and Eliza.
Another smaller problem was Molly's habit of being very judgmental and easily offended. This very much detracted from her character, making her appear less of a good character and more petty.
My main issue with this book was the town language nonsense. It was complete and utter bologna, and I have to confess I was rather disgusted that the author stooped so low as to completely make something up. I happen to know four pairs of twins and two sets of triplets very well, and there is no secret language to speak of( pun mildly intended) . There are not words strong enough to express my disgust, disbelief, and
disappointment that someone would make it up and then sell it as real.
All this to say that while the overall plot made the story much better than her previous tries, there were many many issues that take so much away from the story as to make it undesirable to read.