Miss Mooney

by P.M. Carlson

Being an actress in the late nineteenth century can be fraught with peril. For one thing, there are the lecherous theatre- goers—but Bridget Mooney can avoid them, except of course when she doesn't want to. "Hang it," Bridget explains, "what's a poor girl to do when she's offered riches, and fame, and sweet frolics with a man who thrills her blood?" More bothersome are the crimes and mysteries she encounters involving Ulysses S. Grant, Sarah Bernhardt, Lillie Langtry, Thomas Alva Edison, Ida Wells, Jesse James, and Mack Sennett—some of which she resolves in a direct manner such as dumping a murderer down a well. "I know, I know, but what do you expect a poor cowardly girl to do? Challenge him to a duel?"

Full of color, humor, and suspense, the ten Bridget Mooney stories are marvelous historical recreations by one of the modern masters of the mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery

2001 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 1998

About the author

P.M. Carlson taught psychology and statistics at Cornell University before deciding that mystery writing was more fun. She has published twelve mystery novels and a dozen mystery short stories. Her novels have been nominated for an Edgar award, a Macavity award, and twice for Anthony awards. Two short stories were finalists for Agatha awards. She edited the Mystery Writers Annual for Mystery Writers of America for several years, and served as President of Sisters in Crime. Besides reading mysteries, she enjoys working on her Victorian house and traveling. She has lived in Guatemala, California, Maryland, Indiana, Paris, and Brooklyn. Currently she lives in New York with her husband and a Belgian sheepdog named Nero Wolfe.

Reviews

[Anke Strömann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zuerst einmal: da man jetzt anscheinend nicht mehr ohne weiteres hier neue bzw. fehlende Ausgaben zufügen kann, ohne total umständlich eine Anfrage in einem Forum zu machen, möchte ich darauf hinweisen, dass dieses Buch nicht wie angegeben 2001 Seiten sondern nur 310 Seiten hat! (obwohl ISBN identisch ist...)
Mir hat das Buch keinen Spaß gemacht. Dies liegt zum einen daran, dass ich nicht viel Bezug zu Bridget Mooney gefunden habe, zum anderen daran, dass ich bis auf drei Geschichten die Fälle jetzt auch nicht sonderlich spannend fand. Positiv empfand ich die Idee hinter dem Buch. Bridget Mooney ist eine Schauspielerin aus Missouri, die Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts in den USA in einige Kriminalfälle verwickelt wird und diese löst (nicht ohne es dabei selbst mit dem Gesetz nicht so ernst zu nehmen). Dabei stösst sie auf viele berühmte, oder zumindet damals berühmte, Persönlichkeiten wie Präsident Grant, Jesse James, Lillie Langtry, Thomas Alva Edison und Sarah Bernhardt oder ist bei den Geschehnissen beim Bau der Brooklyn Bridge zugegen. Allerdings hätte man für meinen Geschmack die Fälle doch etwas interessanter gestalten können. Bei vielen habe ich jetzt schon vergessen, um was es eigentlich ging. So uninteressant waren sie leider für mich.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You really should not take these stories seriously. If you do that they can be funny and charming. However some darker topics were handled very lightly which was not my favourite.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Brigid Mooney would like to be an actress. Oh, and rich and famous, too. When her aunt is murdered, it seems that Brigid will never be able to fulfill her ambitions. But she's a clever girl, and determined, and skilled in more than one way. These stories trace her career through her meetings with various famous people. Brigid is loyal and determined to avenge those of her friends who die untimely deaths, except those she has to kill herself, of course. In general, it's easy to find that she's right in her judgments, but the story involving Parnell casts a colder light on Brigid's character.

[Jeff Hobbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

The father of the bride; or, a fate worse than death!--3
Death scene; or, the Moor of Venice--3
The eighth wonder of the world; or, golden opinions--4
The dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard; or, such stuff as dreams are made on--2
The Jersey lily; or, make me immortal with a kiss--2
The uncrowned king of Ireland; or, a most toad-spotted traitor--2
Put out the light; or, the Napoleon of science--2
The rosewood coffin; or, the divine Sarah--3
Parties unknown by the jury; or, the valour of my tongue--2
The king of comedy; or, a policeman's lot is not a happy one--2

[Sandra Strange · Rating 2 out of 5]

These picaresque mystery stories are intriguing because they all involve historical characters. Each story includes, at its ending, copies of actual contemporary news articles about the incident or incidents included in the mystery. My only reservation is Miss Bridget Mooney, the protagonist involved in each mystery, a con-woman actress--because of her amoral stance on extramarital sex and, more seriously, murder of those who threaten her in some way (though most usually deserve their fate).