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Sylvia Shipman Murder Mysteries #1
Murder With Motive
When Sylvia Shipman’s uncle plunges to his death on the eve of a catastrophic stock market crash, the verdict is suicide. But Sylvia doubts the official story after seeing a sinister stranger fleeing the scene. She doubts it even more after learning of her uncle’s secret criminal connections.
With the help of her family’s attractive new chauffeur, the mysteriously capable Miles, Sylvia chases the true killer through the swanky jazz clubs and shadowed alleyways of 1920’s New York. But in her quest for answers, is she prepared to face an ultimate revelation more shocking than any she has imagined?
With the help of her family’s attractive new chauffeur, the mysteriously capable Miles, Sylvia chases the true killer through the swanky jazz clubs and shadowed alleyways of 1920’s New York. But in her quest for answers, is she prepared to face an ultimate revelation more shocking than any she has imagined?
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2022
715 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Blythe Baker
117 books387 followersBlythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 4, 2025
We'll steal a Lexus, be detectives / Ride 'round picking up clues / We'll name our children Jackie and Wilson / Raise 'em on rhythm and blues (Jackie and Wilson – Hozier).
Hey, I’ve got to get something off of my chest… I’ve actually been sitting on this book for a little while, just waiting for the moment to finally be able to talk about it, because it actually turns out that I read this a little bit ago. Um, let's say somewhere between the days of Christmas and now. I’m sorry, I know that breaks protocol! I’m a fraud who’s living a lie! And I wish I could say that this unfortunate “Goodreads faux pas” was due to the fact that I’m a voracious reader and just couldn’t stand being without a book in hand for even a second, but the simple truth is that I really don’t like my “currently reading” books to rollover into the new year, so I figured I’d pick this up with the intention of having some light reading material to thumb through while I waited with bated breath for January. And here I am. That’s how I got here. Record scratch sound or whatever. But then the weirdest thing happened, the next thing I knew I had finished the entire book in a couple sittings! Aw shucks, not again. Anyway, while this all sounds one of my usual overlong, convoluted beginnings to a glowing review, I’m afraid that’s not entirely the case here. Let’s be real, binge reading something because I couldn’t put it down doesn’t always necessarily mean that I’m enjoying it, you know? Maybe I wanted to put it down! I mean, my ass suffered through several seasons of The Walking Dead before realizing I was actually only hurting myself in the long run! Well, maybe that's not fair, because this book definitely didn’t stoop to the low lows of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, that’s for sure. And I would never be so cruel as to accuse anyone, let alone Blythe Baker, of being as bad a writer as Scott Gimple is. And yet, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in this book all the same. I don’t know, it might just be the fact that I’m still a really big fan of Blythe Baker’s Miss Alice series, and there were a few things about this book that didn’t quite match up to what I think of as this author’s usual quality of writing. Well, on the surface, they’re actually quite similar! We've got the reluctant hero, the mystery having deep ties to the main character’s past, and we can’t forget the love-interest with a dark secret, making him a little edgy but with a devotion to the hero that can’t help but make him charming and lovable. On paper, these elements together should make for an easy win for me, but there are a few key differences as to why I couldn’t really gel with this story. The only problem is that I'm lacking in the vocabulary department and can only describe my problems with this book as feeling like “the vibes were off.” I know, that’s a complete bullshit answer, so I’ll try to explain in better detail, it’s the least this book deserves.
Where should I even start? Well, for one, I wasn’t too hyped about the mystery this time around, which probably isn't a good thing considering this is a mystery book. I didn't think it was particularly smart or intriguing, which was a bit sad because the ingredients really were there for this to feature a puzzling one to write home about! And sure, while it's true that Alice from the Miss Alice series would also often "luck" her way into solving her own mysteries, I’d argue that she at least wanted to solve them, if you catch my drift. In this book, Sylvia in constantly stating to herself, others, and us, the readers, that all of this murder business is “none of her business” and that she should “leave these matters to the authorities,” and I’m sorry Sylvia… but you’re in a MYSTERY NOVEL! Is it really too much to ask for a mystery protagonist to have an innate interest in uncovering mysteries? Okay look, none of this would have been a problem had Sylvia eventually shed this reluctance for meddling naturally over the course of the story and eventually used her smarts to save the day, but that’s the thing… this book’s mystery mostly solves itself by the end?? In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the story probably wouldn’t have changed all that much even if Sylvia and her sexy new butler/chauffeur hadn’t gone investigating in the first place! If anything, they'd probably made things worse, because the only time Sylvia and Miles actually went out sleuthing, Sylvia went to the obviously wrong suspect, a working class lady who had been dating her uncle, and accused her of being both a gold digger and a murderer! Like damn, she really needs to work on her instinctual… instincts. And that actually leads into my other main criticism for this book; I felt like there was a bit of a classist aura to the story and it really rubbed me the wrong way. Remember all those sentences ago where I said that Sylvia accused an obviously innocent lady of being both a murderer and a gold digger? Yeah well, this also happens at the jazz club where the lady worked and throughout the whole scene there’s this unmistakable judgmental tone to the narration. I mean, I could be reading into things, it's true, but we’d get several comments about how “This place is so~oo dirty” or there would d be a heavy emphasis about how they’re “in the dangerous part of town,” and I was just kind of, like, bracing myself for things to get offensive. Thankfully, nothing gets too out of hand, it’s not like this was written by Josh Lanyon, and there’s no doubt that this mindset mirrors sentiments of the time period, but it’s already hard enough for me to root for entitled rich people, so following a bunch of snobs constantly crying about their first world problems really didn’t help to endear me to Sylvia and her family. It's why I couldn’t get into Red, White, & Royal Blue and why I absolutely loathed Playing the Palace. Sorry, I just couldn’t be bothered enough to care. Hell, there’s this Twitch streamer who by all accounts is apparently a “nice” guy, but because he’s always talking about how he's some kind of “mogul,” I’ll always have an unshakable dislike for him and all the content he churns out.
But hey, I’m probably going off on one of those tangents again. Would you believe me if I told you that one of my new year’s resolutions was to write shorter reviews and not stress about getting every one of my nitpicks out on paper for the whole world to know? Yeah well, I guess I’ve already failed that one. Drat! Anyway, what I was trying to say before I got sidetracked by my inborn dislike for Twitch streamers was that I was already prepared for a less than stellar mystery before starting this book because, while enjoyable, I already knew that the ones featured in Baker’s Miss Alice series didn’t exactly feature the most brain teasing twisty twists out there. So, it wasn't like I was devastated that the mystery was lacking this time around. I knew what to expect! Besides, what was really special about those books was the romance between Alice and her man, Sherborne. This writer definitely knows how to do romance, and I can definitely say with confidence that even the tiniest hint of romance between Miles and Sylvia was the strongest aspect of Murder With a Motive as well. Though I’m afraid that it didn’t quite hit for me the same way it did in this author’s previous works. Something was off, I suppose. Not to circle back to the whole “entitled rich people” thing that I keep harping on about… but I think that the main thing that didn’t work in Sylvia and Miles’ relationship was the fact that Miles works for the former. Sure, there’s a power dynamic thing at play here and that’s not the greatest, but it’s also just a dynamic that’s not exactly deserving of… swoons. Swoon worthy? swoony?? Like come on! “The Lady and the bodyguard?” now that’s a classic trope right there! We’ve all seen Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard and loved it, but “The Lady and her Chauffeur?” Eh, I’m not so sure that one’s doing all that much for me. Unless we’re counting Kato and the Green Hornet? Because I guess I could get behind that one. They’ve got a little something something going on, no? Anyway, it’s weird because I feel like their dynamic should work for me, but it just kind of doesn’t. So yeah, like I said, the vibes were off or whatever. Murder With a Motive was alright, and I definitely didn’t dislike it, which I consider a huge win considering the amount of elements in the story that I find disagreeable. But the real question is will I continue the series? Um, unfortunately… yeah. There was a pretty killer cliff-hanger at the end, so forgive me for potentially leaving a bunch of “3 star” reviews in my wake as I continue on. Sorry book!
Hey, I’ve got to get something off of my chest… I’ve actually been sitting on this book for a little while, just waiting for the moment to finally be able to talk about it, because it actually turns out that I read this a little bit ago. Um, let's say somewhere between the days of Christmas and now. I’m sorry, I know that breaks protocol! I’m a fraud who’s living a lie! And I wish I could say that this unfortunate “Goodreads faux pas” was due to the fact that I’m a voracious reader and just couldn’t stand being without a book in hand for even a second, but the simple truth is that I really don’t like my “currently reading” books to rollover into the new year, so I figured I’d pick this up with the intention of having some light reading material to thumb through while I waited with bated breath for January. And here I am. That’s how I got here. Record scratch sound or whatever. But then the weirdest thing happened, the next thing I knew I had finished the entire book in a couple sittings! Aw shucks, not again. Anyway, while this all sounds one of my usual overlong, convoluted beginnings to a glowing review, I’m afraid that’s not entirely the case here. Let’s be real, binge reading something because I couldn’t put it down doesn’t always necessarily mean that I’m enjoying it, you know? Maybe I wanted to put it down! I mean, my ass suffered through several seasons of The Walking Dead before realizing I was actually only hurting myself in the long run! Well, maybe that's not fair, because this book definitely didn’t stoop to the low lows of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, that’s for sure. And I would never be so cruel as to accuse anyone, let alone Blythe Baker, of being as bad a writer as Scott Gimple is. And yet, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in this book all the same. I don’t know, it might just be the fact that I’m still a really big fan of Blythe Baker’s Miss Alice series, and there were a few things about this book that didn’t quite match up to what I think of as this author’s usual quality of writing. Well, on the surface, they’re actually quite similar! We've got the reluctant hero, the mystery having deep ties to the main character’s past, and we can’t forget the love-interest with a dark secret, making him a little edgy but with a devotion to the hero that can’t help but make him charming and lovable. On paper, these elements together should make for an easy win for me, but there are a few key differences as to why I couldn’t really gel with this story. The only problem is that I'm lacking in the vocabulary department and can only describe my problems with this book as feeling like “the vibes were off.” I know, that’s a complete bullshit answer, so I’ll try to explain in better detail, it’s the least this book deserves.
Where should I even start? Well, for one, I wasn’t too hyped about the mystery this time around, which probably isn't a good thing considering this is a mystery book. I didn't think it was particularly smart or intriguing, which was a bit sad because the ingredients really were there for this to feature a puzzling one to write home about! And sure, while it's true that Alice from the Miss Alice series would also often "luck" her way into solving her own mysteries, I’d argue that she at least wanted to solve them, if you catch my drift. In this book, Sylvia in constantly stating to herself, others, and us, the readers, that all of this murder business is “none of her business” and that she should “leave these matters to the authorities,” and I’m sorry Sylvia… but you’re in a MYSTERY NOVEL! Is it really too much to ask for a mystery protagonist to have an innate interest in uncovering mysteries? Okay look, none of this would have been a problem had Sylvia eventually shed this reluctance for meddling naturally over the course of the story and eventually used her smarts to save the day, but that’s the thing… this book’s mystery mostly solves itself by the end?? In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the story probably wouldn’t have changed all that much even if Sylvia and her sexy new butler/chauffeur hadn’t gone investigating in the first place! If anything, they'd probably made things worse, because the only time Sylvia and Miles actually went out sleuthing, Sylvia went to the obviously wrong suspect, a working class lady who had been dating her uncle, and accused her of being both a gold digger and a murderer! Like damn, she really needs to work on her instinctual… instincts. And that actually leads into my other main criticism for this book; I felt like there was a bit of a classist aura to the story and it really rubbed me the wrong way. Remember all those sentences ago where I said that Sylvia accused an obviously innocent lady of being both a murderer and a gold digger? Yeah well, this also happens at the jazz club where the lady worked and throughout the whole scene there’s this unmistakable judgmental tone to the narration. I mean, I could be reading into things, it's true, but we’d get several comments about how “This place is so~oo dirty” or there would d be a heavy emphasis about how they’re “in the dangerous part of town,” and I was just kind of, like, bracing myself for things to get offensive. Thankfully, nothing gets too out of hand, it’s not like this was written by Josh Lanyon, and there’s no doubt that this mindset mirrors sentiments of the time period, but it’s already hard enough for me to root for entitled rich people, so following a bunch of snobs constantly crying about their first world problems really didn’t help to endear me to Sylvia and her family. It's why I couldn’t get into Red, White, & Royal Blue and why I absolutely loathed Playing the Palace. Sorry, I just couldn’t be bothered enough to care. Hell, there’s this Twitch streamer who by all accounts is apparently a “nice” guy, but because he’s always talking about how he's some kind of “mogul,” I’ll always have an unshakable dislike for him and all the content he churns out.
But hey, I’m probably going off on one of those tangents again. Would you believe me if I told you that one of my new year’s resolutions was to write shorter reviews and not stress about getting every one of my nitpicks out on paper for the whole world to know? Yeah well, I guess I’ve already failed that one. Drat! Anyway, what I was trying to say before I got sidetracked by my inborn dislike for Twitch streamers was that I was already prepared for a less than stellar mystery before starting this book because, while enjoyable, I already knew that the ones featured in Baker’s Miss Alice series didn’t exactly feature the most brain teasing twisty twists out there. So, it wasn't like I was devastated that the mystery was lacking this time around. I knew what to expect! Besides, what was really special about those books was the romance between Alice and her man, Sherborne. This writer definitely knows how to do romance, and I can definitely say with confidence that even the tiniest hint of romance between Miles and Sylvia was the strongest aspect of Murder With a Motive as well. Though I’m afraid that it didn’t quite hit for me the same way it did in this author’s previous works. Something was off, I suppose. Not to circle back to the whole “entitled rich people” thing that I keep harping on about… but I think that the main thing that didn’t work in Sylvia and Miles’ relationship was the fact that Miles works for the former. Sure, there’s a power dynamic thing at play here and that’s not the greatest, but it’s also just a dynamic that’s not exactly deserving of… swoons. Swoon worthy? swoony?? Like come on! “The Lady and the bodyguard?” now that’s a classic trope right there! We’ve all seen Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard and loved it, but “The Lady and her Chauffeur?” Eh, I’m not so sure that one’s doing all that much for me. Unless we’re counting Kato and the Green Hornet? Because I guess I could get behind that one. They’ve got a little something something going on, no? Anyway, it’s weird because I feel like their dynamic should work for me, but it just kind of doesn’t. So yeah, like I said, the vibes were off or whatever. Murder With a Motive was alright, and I definitely didn’t dislike it, which I consider a huge win considering the amount of elements in the story that I find disagreeable. But the real question is will I continue the series? Um, unfortunately… yeah. There was a pretty killer cliff-hanger at the end, so forgive me for potentially leaving a bunch of “3 star” reviews in my wake as I continue on. Sorry book!
April 28, 2024
Rating: 3.8 / 5
And, ding ding ding, we have a winner! As my third attempt into the works of Blythe Baker, finally we've found something that attracts me!
Ahem, we focus in on our heroine, Sylvia Shipman, who is part of a wealthy family living in New York. They're at a party at a fancy hotel, at which Sylvia's uncle Walter is...well, found dead after a nasty fall. No one suspects foul play except Sylvia, who saw a mysterious figure running away from the hotel and feels compelled to act on it. Literally the first (homeless?) man she sees, Miles, agrees to help her, after which Sylvia engages him as her family's new butler/chauffeur.
Thus begins the story, with a quick read-through to get through everything.
So...to start with, I'll admit that the mystery element wasn't the greatest, as I guessed right away who the murderer was. Not that anything gives them away, I just had a feeling about it and was proven right. The reasons behind the murder are still to-be-revealed however, but it does tie in to the stock market crash in 1929, when this story takes place. (Also, fun fact: in 2024, the calendar year is exactly the same as in 1929, which is fortunate for me since the dates align and all, and I just thought it was a cool fact.)
Ahem, anyway, the mystery element's just alright but thankfully the book isn't that long and therefore doesn't waste time on extraneous details.
THAT BEING SAID...
There were a few things that I would have liked a few more details on. Namely: the characters. I mean, Sylvia herself is kind of described since we're reading everything through her pov, but at the same time I was left kind of unsatisfied as to just how to read her character. She seems to be a grown woman in what I'm assuming is mid-20s, but at the same time acts impulsive in more of a teenager-like way at times, so I had a bit of a time trying to place her. (And also, while her mother would like to see her with a beau, her family isn't pushing her towards anything, so I guess she's not quite at the "old maid" stage just yet?)
And then there's just Sylvia's family herself, who also aren't fleshed out, which I think would have helped matters. Like...her sister is kind of given a personality (aka Sylvia's younger sister who's a bit more social and flighty, but not quite a "bright young thing" just yet, though she may become one later on in the series), but her parents are both just kind of...there. Like, her dad is stern and distant, but that's explained since he's concerned about the Wall Street crash and his own investments; for Sylvia's mother though, she just seemed like a very incapable, flighty woman, and I would've liked to see more oomph out of her personality. (Also, just the way that no one just Sylvia seems to be taking her uncle's death seriously was a huge minus for the family, especially since Sylvia gives us to understand that they had a fairly good history together with shared Christmases, her uncle doting on her and her sister, etc.)
But, oh well, take it all in all, I did like this book more than see the problems with it, so overall I'm taking that as a plus to continue on with the series. Just to end off positively, here are the things that I DID enjoy:
+ Miles, mystery and all (can't wait to see more of this guy, he's like a young, hot Jeeves, by all accounts)
+ Miles and Sylvia's relationship (I pictured them a bit like Sybil and Branson from Downton Abbey at some parts, particularly when he takes on the chauffeur role)
+ the descriptions of the settings, which thankfully were NOT too long, and therefore set just the right amount of atmosphere
+ the focus of the plot, which doesn't add in extra details that we won't care about
+ the book cover, because I do quite like it, the colour especially (heck, it's what drew me to this read in the first place!)
And, ding ding ding, we have a winner! As my third attempt into the works of Blythe Baker, finally we've found something that attracts me!
Ahem, we focus in on our heroine, Sylvia Shipman, who is part of a wealthy family living in New York. They're at a party at a fancy hotel, at which Sylvia's uncle Walter is...well, found dead after a nasty fall. No one suspects foul play except Sylvia, who saw a mysterious figure running away from the hotel and feels compelled to act on it. Literally the first (homeless?) man she sees, Miles, agrees to help her, after which Sylvia engages him as her family's new butler/chauffeur.
Thus begins the story, with a quick read-through to get through everything.
So...to start with, I'll admit that the mystery element wasn't the greatest, as I guessed right away who the murderer was. Not that anything gives them away, I just had a feeling about it and was proven right. The reasons behind the murder are still to-be-revealed however, but it does tie in to the stock market crash in 1929, when this story takes place. (Also, fun fact: in 2024, the calendar year is exactly the same as in 1929, which is fortunate for me since the dates align and all, and I just thought it was a cool fact.)
Ahem, anyway, the mystery element's just alright but thankfully the book isn't that long and therefore doesn't waste time on extraneous details.
THAT BEING SAID...
There were a few things that I would have liked a few more details on. Namely: the characters. I mean, Sylvia herself is kind of described since we're reading everything through her pov, but at the same time I was left kind of unsatisfied as to just how to read her character. She seems to be a grown woman in what I'm assuming is mid-20s, but at the same time acts impulsive in more of a teenager-like way at times, so I had a bit of a time trying to place her. (And also, while her mother would like to see her with a beau, her family isn't pushing her towards anything, so I guess she's not quite at the "old maid" stage just yet?)
And then there's just Sylvia's family herself, who also aren't fleshed out, which I think would have helped matters. Like...her sister is kind of given a personality (aka Sylvia's younger sister who's a bit more social and flighty, but not quite a "bright young thing" just yet, though she may become one later on in the series), but her parents are both just kind of...there. Like, her dad is stern and distant, but that's explained since he's concerned about the Wall Street crash and his own investments; for Sylvia's mother though, she just seemed like a very incapable, flighty woman, and I would've liked to see more oomph out of her personality. (Also, just the way that no one just Sylvia seems to be taking her uncle's death seriously was a huge minus for the family, especially since Sylvia gives us to understand that they had a fairly good history together with shared Christmases, her uncle doting on her and her sister, etc.)
But, oh well, take it all in all, I did like this book more than see the problems with it, so overall I'm taking that as a plus to continue on with the series. Just to end off positively, here are the things that I DID enjoy:
+ Miles, mystery and all (can't wait to see more of this guy, he's like a young, hot Jeeves, by all accounts)
+ Miles and Sylvia's relationship (I pictured them a bit like Sybil and Branson from Downton Abbey at some parts, particularly when he takes on the chauffeur role)
+ the descriptions of the settings, which thankfully were NOT too long, and therefore set just the right amount of atmosphere
+ the focus of the plot, which doesn't add in extra details that we won't care about
+ the book cover, because I do quite like it, the colour especially (heck, it's what drew me to this read in the first place!)
October 26, 2023
This is a lively murder mystery with interesting characters, 1920's New York with action beginning on the eve of the stock market crash. A young woman, Sylvia, is main mover determined to discover why or how her uncle fell to his death at a seasonal party. Sylvia partners with a mysterious stranger who becomes a central character in assisting Sylvia with her determined efforts to clear her uncle's reputation.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
August 4, 2023
A Cozy murder mystery
OK, so I recommend reading this with a big cup of hot tea, this book has all the cozy murder mystery vibes I love.
The story was well paste and interesting and left me wanting more of Sylvia Shipman and miles the new butter who seems to have a more detailed back story then meets the eye.
So excited to read more!
OK, so I recommend reading this with a big cup of hot tea, this book has all the cozy murder mystery vibes I love.
The story was well paste and interesting and left me wanting more of Sylvia Shipman and miles the new butter who seems to have a more detailed back story then meets the eye.
So excited to read more!
December 31, 2024
I enjoyed the setting and the mystery was interesting. Sylvia was likeable enough (I liked her much better than Barbara Hollis from the other series I’ve tried by this author) but I found it difficult to believe that she 1) would just hire someone for their household not knowing anything about him and 2) that she would investigate with him, trusting him without knowing him. There were other things that didn’t make sense to me but I will reserve judgment until I try the second in the series.
January 5, 2023
Suicide or murder?
An enjoyable evening out to the Grand Opening of a new hotel turns murderous. Sylvia and her family are enjoying the luxurious new place when out of nowhere a man crashes to the floor from above and it turns out it’s her Uncle Walter. Her family seems content to ignore that this tragic event has occurred but Sylvia cannot just stand idly by. So she enlists the help of newly employed Miles to find the truth behind the lies and the indifference. The backdrop of all this is the months leading up to the stock market crash in 1929. The duo uncover more than they expect when shifting the clues from that fateful night.
Sylvia in particular and the book in general is quite full of angst. There is a lot of self doubt and what seems like self recrimination on her part about being involved. Sylvia gets no pleasure from this investigating but continues with great reluctance. Seems like a rather odd quality to have as a main character in a mystery story. Although I suppose it is appropriate for the time the book is set. The whole world must’ve seemed on the precipice of something momentous good or bad yet to be determined. Miles is an unusual man. A mystery wrapped in an enigma with one doozy of a reveal at the end of the book. He encourages and helps Sylvia investigate reminds me of the angel or devil on your shoulder. Not sure which one he is yet. Lastly this does tend to be more narrative than action filled. All that being said I was a fan. I liked Sylvia she is honest and brave in the way that she’s not sure that she can find an answer but she won’t sit by and let nothing be done. I think if nothing else that quality will resonate with many readers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An enjoyable evening out to the Grand Opening of a new hotel turns murderous. Sylvia and her family are enjoying the luxurious new place when out of nowhere a man crashes to the floor from above and it turns out it’s her Uncle Walter. Her family seems content to ignore that this tragic event has occurred but Sylvia cannot just stand idly by. So she enlists the help of newly employed Miles to find the truth behind the lies and the indifference. The backdrop of all this is the months leading up to the stock market crash in 1929. The duo uncover more than they expect when shifting the clues from that fateful night.
Sylvia in particular and the book in general is quite full of angst. There is a lot of self doubt and what seems like self recrimination on her part about being involved. Sylvia gets no pleasure from this investigating but continues with great reluctance. Seems like a rather odd quality to have as a main character in a mystery story. Although I suppose it is appropriate for the time the book is set. The whole world must’ve seemed on the precipice of something momentous good or bad yet to be determined. Miles is an unusual man. A mystery wrapped in an enigma with one doozy of a reveal at the end of the book. He encourages and helps Sylvia investigate reminds me of the angel or devil on your shoulder. Not sure which one he is yet. Lastly this does tend to be more narrative than action filled. All that being said I was a fan. I liked Sylvia she is honest and brave in the way that she’s not sure that she can find an answer but she won’t sit by and let nothing be done. I think if nothing else that quality will resonate with many readers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 2, 2025
1) The heroine is a terrible sleuth.
2) The writing of dialogues was like this for 90% of the time:
"Dialogue." I said.
"Dialogue." He/She said.
3)
2) The writing of dialogues was like this for 90% of the time:
"Dialogue." I said.
"Dialogue." He/She said.
3)
January 25, 2023
A much better start to a series
I enjoyed this book quite a lot, more than I anticipated. The main characters are richly interesting, the seemingly bumbling attempts in discovering clues are much more fruitful than anticipated, and the premise is quite promising. Although I detest cliffhangers, this one segued rather well. I am definitely looking forward to the next book and highly recommend this one.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot, more than I anticipated. The main characters are richly interesting, the seemingly bumbling attempts in discovering clues are much more fruitful than anticipated, and the premise is quite promising. Although I detest cliffhangers, this one segued rather well. I am definitely looking forward to the next book and highly recommend this one.
January 26, 2023
Thoroughly intriguing.
This book caught my attention right from the start! The plot was well thought out. The characters were interesting. There was a little humor and a little romance. And it kept me guessing right till the end! It left me with questions about a certain character that definitely motivated me to read the second book in the series. The only bad thing is I have to wait 6 days till it comes out! Good job Ms Baker!
This book caught my attention right from the start! The plot was well thought out. The characters were interesting. There was a little humor and a little romance. And it kept me guessing right till the end! It left me with questions about a certain character that definitely motivated me to read the second book in the series. The only bad thing is I have to wait 6 days till it comes out! Good job Ms Baker!
July 24, 2023
I loved this and already got the second book. I know I won't be disappointed.
January 9, 2023
Scene was set in the 1930s, with the looming stock market crash about to happen. Sylvia, the main character of the story, finds herself caught up in the mystery of finding out who killed her uncle. She feels that she is the only one in her family that cares to know what happened. In a matter of events, she meets a gentleman and recruits him to be her accomplice and assist her along the way. Lots of twists and turns and you don’t know until the very end of the book what really happened.
This book was a real page turner for me, I was very enthralled into the story from the very start. The main character pulled you in, and you wanted to see what she could find out. The supporting characters were greatly written to give her contrast to her quest. I feel because of their indignant that made her push that much harder to find out the cause of his fall.
This is the second opportunity that I have been able to receive an advance copy book from Miss Blythe Baker, and I have been impressed with her attention to detail and her story originality. I recommend this book in a list of different ways, but the best would be as a great murder mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was a real page turner for me, I was very enthralled into the story from the very start. The main character pulled you in, and you wanted to see what she could find out. The supporting characters were greatly written to give her contrast to her quest. I feel because of their indignant that made her push that much harder to find out the cause of his fall.
This is the second opportunity that I have been able to receive an advance copy book from Miss Blythe Baker, and I have been impressed with her attention to detail and her story originality. I recommend this book in a list of different ways, but the best would be as a great murder mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 25, 2025
From the very first page, Murder With Motive pulled me right in. Told through the first-person perspective of Sylvia Shipman—a young woman of privilege navigating the treacherous waters of 1920s New York—the novel is both engaging and suspenseful. This narrative choice is particularly effective, drawing the reader close to Sylvia’s thoughts and fears, and letting us uncover the truth alongside her. We only know what she knows, and that limited viewpoint builds tension and heightens every twist.
The story begins with the sudden and mysterious death of Sylvia’s uncle, who falls from a balcony during a high-society gala—on the very eve of the infamous stock market crash. The timing is suspicious, and though the family is quick to call it an accident or suicide, Sylvia isn’t convinced. She saw something—or rather, someone—that night. And her instincts won’t let her look away.
As the world around her scrambles to protect crumbling fortunes, Sylvia begins asking questions no one else wants to ask. Her search for answers takes her from glittering ballrooms to smoky jazz clubs and shadowy backstreets, where secrets and lies swirl just beneath the surface. Helping her is Miles, the new family chauffeur, who is as enigmatic as he is capable—and whose quiet strength and mystery make him the perfect sleuthing companion.
The mystery is well-paced, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece it all together. I found myself solving the case right alongside Sylvia, which made the final reveal all the more satisfying. The plot kept me guessing, but never felt convoluted or out of reach.
While the novel could benefit from some light editing to smooth grammar and a missing or extra word, its strengths far outweigh any minor issues. The pacing is brisk, the setting is richly atmospheric, and the dynamic between Sylvia and Miles is a delightful bonus.
Murder With Motive is a promising start to what I hope will be a long-running series. If you're a fan of historical mysteries with smart female leads, a hint of romance, and plenty of intrigue, this is one to add to your list.
The story begins with the sudden and mysterious death of Sylvia’s uncle, who falls from a balcony during a high-society gala—on the very eve of the infamous stock market crash. The timing is suspicious, and though the family is quick to call it an accident or suicide, Sylvia isn’t convinced. She saw something—or rather, someone—that night. And her instincts won’t let her look away.
As the world around her scrambles to protect crumbling fortunes, Sylvia begins asking questions no one else wants to ask. Her search for answers takes her from glittering ballrooms to smoky jazz clubs and shadowy backstreets, where secrets and lies swirl just beneath the surface. Helping her is Miles, the new family chauffeur, who is as enigmatic as he is capable—and whose quiet strength and mystery make him the perfect sleuthing companion.
The mystery is well-paced, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece it all together. I found myself solving the case right alongside Sylvia, which made the final reveal all the more satisfying. The plot kept me guessing, but never felt convoluted or out of reach.
While the novel could benefit from some light editing to smooth grammar and a missing or extra word, its strengths far outweigh any minor issues. The pacing is brisk, the setting is richly atmospheric, and the dynamic between Sylvia and Miles is a delightful bonus.
Murder With Motive is a promising start to what I hope will be a long-running series. If you're a fan of historical mysteries with smart female leads, a hint of romance, and plenty of intrigue, this is one to add to your list.
September 30, 2024
Improbable!
Let's start with the best point of the book: Well written, obviously edited, and, being set at the time of the start of the Depression, enjoyable for the lack of irritating cop show forensics.
Downhill from there. Spoiler! These aspects of the plot are simply ridiculous!
The rich and elite members of the household speak in a cultivated, grammatically correct manner--but so does the simplest busboy at the club. Again, ridiculous.
The conclusion to the mystery was rushed and hurried, and the book ends with a cliffhanger, which is just irritating. (Buy the next book to find out what happens!) Uh, sorry, no. Not going to be reading any more in this series or by this author.
Let's start with the best point of the book: Well written, obviously edited, and, being set at the time of the start of the Depression, enjoyable for the lack of irritating cop show forensics.
Downhill from there. Spoiler! These aspects of the plot are simply ridiculous!
The rich and elite members of the household speak in a cultivated, grammatically correct manner--but so does the simplest busboy at the club. Again, ridiculous.
The conclusion to the mystery was rushed and hurried, and the book ends with a cliffhanger, which is just irritating. (Buy the next book to find out what happens!) Uh, sorry, no. Not going to be reading any more in this series or by this author.
January 14, 2024
Interesting take on the stock market crash
I'm not terribly knowledgeable about the circumstances surrounding the1929 stock market crash, a I was able to read this without a critical eye toward accuracy. It is definitely easier that way.
What I did notice was the strange freedom that the young lady's freedom to just hop into the limousine and take off with the butler-slash-chauffeur and go sleuthing away. Not likely to be considered proper behavior in 1929 society girls. Nor would the butler-chauffeur realistically be visiting this same young lady in her bedroom.
Finally, I'm sort of a grammar police person, and found several grammar errors that might have been corrected with just a little bit of editing.
All that aside, it was an interesting story and an easy read (except for the inconsistent bits mentioned above). I definitely didn't know who did the crime, nor why - though I assumed it had to do with the stock market crash - so the search for the murderer was entertaining.
So, bottom line, it was moderately entertaining, I didn't hate it. I may read the next in the series, or not. I'll have to think about it.
I'm not terribly knowledgeable about the circumstances surrounding the1929 stock market crash, a I was able to read this without a critical eye toward accuracy. It is definitely easier that way.
What I did notice was the strange freedom that the young lady's freedom to just hop into the limousine and take off with the butler-slash-chauffeur and go sleuthing away. Not likely to be considered proper behavior in 1929 society girls. Nor would the butler-chauffeur realistically be visiting this same young lady in her bedroom.
Finally, I'm sort of a grammar police person, and found several grammar errors that might have been corrected with just a little bit of editing.
All that aside, it was an interesting story and an easy read (except for the inconsistent bits mentioned above). I definitely didn't know who did the crime, nor why - though I assumed it had to do with the stock market crash - so the search for the murderer was entertaining.
So, bottom line, it was moderately entertaining, I didn't hate it. I may read the next in the series, or not. I'll have to think about it.
April 16, 2025
⭐⭐⭐💫 3.75 stars
Art Deco cover drew me in!
🏙️ NYC, stock market crash. Sylvia and her wealthy family are enjoying a party at a brand new posh hotel when suddenly her uncle falls to his death from the 10th floor. Everyone assumes it suicide. But Sylvia can't figure out why her mother and father, her sister, her uncle's young fiance, and even the cops, aren't questioning it.
Simultaneously the stock market plunges and her father cares more about his wealth than his brother's death. They don't even have a funeral; they just start selling off their furniture and valuables.
Together with their new butler/chauffeur, Sylvia takes on an amateur investigator role.
🤔 I would have given this 4 stars but I didn't develop a fondness for any of the chracters. It was a well-written novella, but the characters felt flat (wish it was longer for development!). Mystery was simple. Overall, a decent read for the atmosphere.
Art Deco cover drew me in!
🏙️ NYC, stock market crash. Sylvia and her wealthy family are enjoying a party at a brand new posh hotel when suddenly her uncle falls to his death from the 10th floor. Everyone assumes it suicide. But Sylvia can't figure out why her mother and father, her sister, her uncle's young fiance, and even the cops, aren't questioning it.
Simultaneously the stock market plunges and her father cares more about his wealth than his brother's death. They don't even have a funeral; they just start selling off their furniture and valuables.
Together with their new butler/chauffeur, Sylvia takes on an amateur investigator role.
🤔 I would have given this 4 stars but I didn't develop a fondness for any of the chracters. It was a well-written novella, but the characters felt flat (wish it was longer for development!). Mystery was simple. Overall, a decent read for the atmosphere.
September 26, 2025
A fabulous read. I don't think I'd even call this a particularly cozy story. It's a thriller! This is the first murder mystery book I have read that is set in the time of the Wall Street crash and what a great plot. You just can't tell who is telling the truth and who is lying. You can feel the emotions (or no emotions) of the characters; sneakyness, boldness, frustration, anger and helplessness. How did Uncle Walter die and why? And why is no-one doing anything?? Sylvia is determined to find out with the help of an unusual ally. Held me right to the last page with a particularly surprising and thrilling end which will lead straight in to the next book.
This is a must read and I don't think you will be disappointed.
This is a must read and I don't think you will be disappointed.
April 27, 2025
This cozy mystery brings to life a time not often explored in historical mystery. The day before the stock market crashing in 1929, Sylvia’s uncle plunges to his death. Although ruled a suicide, Sylvia doubts this conclusion and searches for evidence to support her suspicions.
The author shows Sylvia’s frustration with the limited roles of women during this historical time period. She gets help from the family’s mysterious new butler and chauffeur as they visit places and people connected to her uncle.
An easy and interesting read, I am curious to see how this author has Sylvia solving future mysteries.
The author shows Sylvia’s frustration with the limited roles of women during this historical time period. She gets help from the family’s mysterious new butler and chauffeur as they visit places and people connected to her uncle.
An easy and interesting read, I am curious to see how this author has Sylvia solving future mysteries.
May 13, 2023
When Sylvia Shipman’s uncle plunges to his death in an elegant new hotel, she escapes the melee through a back door to an alley. There she meets a seeming vagrant, Miles, whom she hires the next morning as her family’s chauffeur and butler. Sylvia feels that it is up to her to solve her uncle’s death since the police are not doing much in the way of an investigation. However, the real mystery of the story is the enigmatic Miles, raising the tantalizing question: did the butler do it?
December 26, 2024
murder with motive
enjoyable whodunit which kept me guessing to the end. Sylvia witnesses someone falling off a balcony at the hotel and in the stampede she ducks down a side door to the street where a homeless man is and spots someone running and alerted the homeless man who gave chase. Sylvia decides to employ the man as the family chauffeur/butler and together they try to solve the murder
enjoyable whodunit which kept me guessing to the end. Sylvia witnesses someone falling off a balcony at the hotel and in the stampede she ducks down a side door to the street where a homeless man is and spots someone running and alerted the homeless man who gave chase. Sylvia decides to employ the man as the family chauffeur/butler and together they try to solve the murder
January 2, 2025
🌟3.75
I was already a fan of Blythe Baker with her Miss Alice series, I’m happy to find that her Sylvia Shipman series is also a good pick. This first installment set up the series’ main players well. Sylvia has some growing to do, but Miles is rather endearing. It also set up second book’s mystery, or possibly an overarching series mystery, at the end of the book, which was a nice little cliffhanger.
I was already a fan of Blythe Baker with her Miss Alice series, I’m happy to find that her Sylvia Shipman series is also a good pick. This first installment set up the series’ main players well. Sylvia has some growing to do, but Miles is rather endearing. It also set up second book’s mystery, or possibly an overarching series mystery, at the end of the book, which was a nice little cliffhanger.
March 5, 2025
3/25. Sylvia Shipman - at beginning of Great Depression - attends hotel gala with her family when her uncle dies by falling from one of the hotel's upper floors. Sylvia meets a man in the street, Miles, who chases after a man Sylvia saw fleeing the hotel. Miles becomes a hired man in the Shipmam household. Can he help Sylvia figure out what happened to her uncle? What is Miles' past? Quick read - gives insight into what people felt at the beginning of the G.D.
January 3, 2023
Wealth can be a burden
Always chasing after the next dollar, always on the lookout for goldiggers, always wondering who one’s true friends are.
Cozies are a great way to learn a wee bit about historical periods.
I already enjoyed other series by this author and look forward to continuing this one with ‘Murder with Means’.
Always chasing after the next dollar, always on the lookout for goldiggers, always wondering who one’s true friends are.
Cozies are a great way to learn a wee bit about historical periods.
I already enjoyed other series by this author and look forward to continuing this one with ‘Murder with Means’.
January 20, 2023
Typical for Blythe Baker
I find the Blythe Baker writing crew turns out books with pretty good plot and character development but with, for me, what are dissatisfying and hurried climaxes.
And Murder with Motive is true to form with a mad rush to a conclusion, a pulling together of the strings that, as it were, are still a tangle, even at the end.
I find the Blythe Baker writing crew turns out books with pretty good plot and character development but with, for me, what are dissatisfying and hurried climaxes.
And Murder with Motive is true to form with a mad rush to a conclusion, a pulling together of the strings that, as it were, are still a tangle, even at the end.
September 26, 2024
Murder with Motive
Was it an accidental fall, a murderous push or a suicide? Uncle Walter's death during a party on the eve of the stock markets crash, impacted not only his family but his friends also! In steps a mysterious stranger, now the family new butler/chauffeur who helps oldest daughter, Sylvia find the truth! Exciting conclusion!
Was it an accidental fall, a murderous push or a suicide? Uncle Walter's death during a party on the eve of the stock markets crash, impacted not only his family but his friends also! In steps a mysterious stranger, now the family new butler/chauffeur who helps oldest daughter, Sylvia find the truth! Exciting conclusion!
December 3, 2024
mixed review
Not her usual level of writing and plotting. Too much time restating naive Sylvia’s questions to herself. Too little dialogue and too much of it forced and unnatural. Too quick to narrow down the suspect. No answer to who fled the initial murder scene. I BBC will try #2 in series to give her benefit of the doubt, but this one was not compelling.
Not her usual level of writing and plotting. Too much time restating naive Sylvia’s questions to herself. Too little dialogue and too much of it forced and unnatural. Too quick to narrow down the suspect. No answer to who fled the initial murder scene. I BBC will try #2 in series to give her benefit of the doubt, but this one was not compelling.
November 9, 2023
Love this Author
The written scenes make you feel like your there in the thick of events Miles and Silvia get into. And the thought and communication between those two you can almost be in their little group
The written scenes make you feel like your there in the thick of events Miles and Silvia get into. And the thought and communication between those two you can almost be in their little group
November 28, 2024
Un libro sin chispa que promete ser una novela policiaca, pero decepciona un poco.
Con pocos sospechosos, resulta evidente quién es el asesino desde el principio, dejando poca emoción o intriga en la trama.
Una historia que no logra sorprender ni enganchar.
Con pocos sospechosos, resulta evidente quién es el asesino desde el principio, dejando poca emoción o intriga en la trama.
Una historia que no logra sorprender ni enganchar.
January 3, 2023
Enjoyable
An interesting new series and I look forward to it developing.
A new series from Blythe Baker is always a treat.
An interesting new series and I look forward to it developing.
A new series from Blythe Baker is always a treat.
January 7, 2023
Amazing story, one that sucks u right in. Great plot and murder mystery
February 13, 2023
The Book ends with a cliffhanger ....
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