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Diana Spaulding #1
Deadlier than the Pen
In 1888, the murder of two female journalists in the New York City prompts newly widowed journalist Diana Spaulding to investigate the handsome horror author Damon Bathory in this historical mystery. Although her growing affection for Bathory makes her increasingly reluctant to pursue him, Spaulding is spurred on by her cigar-chomping boss Horatio Foxe in an adventure that pits her against a deranged artist, a matriarch with a bloodthirsty sense of humor, and a traveling acting troupe of egotistical men and jealous women. Written against the background of New York City during the height of yellow journalism, the novel brings to life not only the the fast-paced murder mystery that Spaulding investigates, but also the day-to-day realities and hardships of the gilded age.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Kathy Lynn Emerson
104 books150 followersaka Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kate Emerson, Kaitlyn Gorton
Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett.
Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 20, 2025
I love stories with heroin who are feminine and gutsy at the same time. This book is an excellent example of that. Diana Spalding is a widow in New York during the later part of the 1800s. She is forced to support herself by writing reviews of plays and books for one of the cities newspapers. She never dreams her work will bring her into the sites of a determined murderer.
October 30, 2014
A real disappointment. Having read and love the author's Face Down series I was anxious to see what she would do with a new setting and new characters. The answer....not much.
Susanna Appleton in the medieval set Face Down books was solid, intuitive and capable, the people who surrounded her well drawn and amusing and the period detail fantastic. The new group of characters are sketches rather people except for the minor character of Jerusha. The new protagonist Diana Spaulding is on the insipid side, someone that things happen to rather than someone who seeks out answers and becomes enmeshed in trouble because of it. Not wretched but a huge letdown after the previous books.
Susanna Appleton in the medieval set Face Down books was solid, intuitive and capable, the people who surrounded her well drawn and amusing and the period detail fantastic. The new group of characters are sketches rather people except for the minor character of Jerusha. The new protagonist Diana Spaulding is on the insipid side, someone that things happen to rather than someone who seeks out answers and becomes enmeshed in trouble because of it. Not wretched but a huge letdown after the previous books.
October 27, 2015
I read this book after I read the second, entirely by accident. I like this better than the second and am looking forward to the third.
December 23, 2020
Deadlier than the Pen by Kathy Lynn Emerson is the first book of the Diana Spaulding mystery series set in March 1888 New York City then Bangor Maine. In New York City, young widow Diana is one of a few women bucking tradition in the field of journalism. Her editor Horatio Foxe is driven to beat rival newspapers by publishing juicy scandal. When Diana attends a dramatic reading of Damon Bathory's horror stories, she's repulsed by the violence and torment of the prose, but drawn to the man's charisma. He refuses to give an interview. Diana refuses to take No for an answer. She follows him across the city, gaining only blisters. She sees him visiting "bedlam"; is it research for creepy stories? Staking out his hotel, she sees him meet with a stranger.
Horatio Foxe shares news articles about women reporters murdered in cities where Bathory was on tour, insists she get the interview - or he will publish a story to reveal Bathory's crimes. Foxe has already tweaked her stories to make them sensational, publishing gossip that alienated friends. When Diana follows Bathory again, she's attacked in an alley - by a man with a knife.
Bathory suddenly becomes amenable, making promises. But she catches sight of him fleeing the city. She's stubborn, after all her job is at stake. There aren't many careers open to women in 1888. She gives chase, completely unprepared to take a train trip, much less to be snowbound for days. Stuck in a blizzard in Connecticut, she's attacked again on the train. Watching Bathory competently set a trainman's fracture, she decides he must be a doctor moonlighting as an author. Could someone else on the train, one of Toddy's Theatrical Troupe (her friends) be the killer?
When she's alone with Bathory, Diana has a sense of safety, besides a strong attraction. However she recalls being giddy in love with her first husband Evan, biggest mistake of her life. She vows not to be fooled, keeps in mind all the suspicious evidence against Bathory - reinforced when he tricks her again. Using her wits, she tracks him to Bangor, Maine.
In his home, meeting his family, she begins to learn the many secrets he's hidden (some already revealed to readers in alternate chapters from his point of view). She continues to take huge risks (and barely survive attacks) until she finally confronts the killer.
We're left with a cliffhanger (typical of Victorian serials): Diana must make a life-changing decision by April. Author's note mentions there really was a Blizzard of '88 that blanketed the northeastern seaboard, and "yellow journalism" thrived on scandal.
Horatio Foxe shares news articles about women reporters murdered in cities where Bathory was on tour, insists she get the interview - or he will publish a story to reveal Bathory's crimes. Foxe has already tweaked her stories to make them sensational, publishing gossip that alienated friends. When Diana follows Bathory again, she's attacked in an alley - by a man with a knife.
Bathory suddenly becomes amenable, making promises. But she catches sight of him fleeing the city. She's stubborn, after all her job is at stake. There aren't many careers open to women in 1888. She gives chase, completely unprepared to take a train trip, much less to be snowbound for days. Stuck in a blizzard in Connecticut, she's attacked again on the train. Watching Bathory competently set a trainman's fracture, she decides he must be a doctor moonlighting as an author. Could someone else on the train, one of Toddy's Theatrical Troupe (her friends) be the killer?
When she's alone with Bathory, Diana has a sense of safety, besides a strong attraction. However she recalls being giddy in love with her first husband Evan, biggest mistake of her life. She vows not to be fooled, keeps in mind all the suspicious evidence against Bathory - reinforced when he tricks her again. Using her wits, she tracks him to Bangor, Maine.
In his home, meeting his family, she begins to learn the many secrets he's hidden (some already revealed to readers in alternate chapters from his point of view). She continues to take huge risks (and barely survive attacks) until she finally confronts the killer.
We're left with a cliffhanger (typical of Victorian serials): Diana must make a life-changing decision by April. Author's note mentions there really was a Blizzard of '88 that blanketed the northeastern seaboard, and "yellow journalism" thrived on scandal.
December 14, 2017
More romance than mystery. But I’ll try the next one in the series because I like the setting. 1900 New York and the north east.
September 15, 2020
Who killed three girl reporters in three cities visited by touring actors and injured Diana during snowstorm or skating? Who is the horror writer? and artist of scantily clad mermaids? The eccentric matriarch? Brother Ben or Aaron?
December 31, 2009
This started off with a rough first third - characters that didn;t flesh out, motivation that wasn't strong enough, and while the few details of working in a Victorian era New York city Newspaper just weren't tantalizing enough to grab me. Luckily, I didn't put the book down, and when the characters left the city for the rest of the book, it improved very much. Some characters so quirky they are downright creepy (although not the heroine, as far as I can tell, there is nothing remarkable or even notable about her) this was obviously an early work, but shows lots of potential for both the series and the writer.
March 1, 2022
When I selected this book from the library it was listed as a cozy historical mystery. Well, yes, but it didn't say it was a ROMANCE NOVEL. Ugh, not what I was wanting, plus the fact that the "romantic" part was a bit creapy. Was that intentional? Not sure as this is the first book I've read by this author, or in the series. I will finish it as I'm 3/4 through it, and will try the next book in the series. If it doesn't get better, I'll have to move on to something better.
November 1, 2014
bought a charity book sale, added it to my stash, It was OK, but three weeks later, I can't remember a thing except there is a travelling theater group, and a rich man interested in a young, impoverished widow, a snowed in train, a murder. this one goes in the donate pile!
June 30, 2008
quite a good Victorian mystery. I'm going to try to find her others now.
to-read-5
June 26, 2009#1 in mystery series set in 1880s
December 19, 2013
3.5
Not a normal read for me, but decent enough.... I realized nearly too late as to who the true killer was. As I already have the other books I will continue to read this series.
Not a normal read for me, but decent enough.... I realized nearly too late as to who the true killer was. As I already have the other books I will continue to read this series.
July 9, 2016
2.5 stars--
January 3, 2012
Murder, romance, and adventure set in 1888 New York and Maine. Loved the spunky protagonist!
September 23, 2014
Fun read!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews