Death at the Fair

Emily Cabot Mysteries #1

by Frances McNamara

The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition provides a vibrant backdrop for this exciting new mystery. Emily Cabot is one of the first women graduate students at the University of Chicago, eager to prove herself in the new field of sociology. While she is busy exploring the Exposition with her family and friends, her colleague, Dr. Stephen Chapman, is accused of murder. Emily sets out to search for the truth behind the crime, but is thwarted by the thieves, corrupt politicians, and gamblers who are ever-present in Chicago. A lynching that occurred in the dead man's past leads Emily to seek the assistance of the black activist Ida B. Wells. Rich with historical details that bring turn-of-the-century Chicago to life, this novel will appeal equally to history buffs and mystery fans.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery

215 pages, Paperback

Published December 28, 2009

About the author

Frances McNamara grew up in Boston, where her father served as Police Commissioner for ten years. She has degrees from Mount Holyoke and Simmons Colleges, and formerly worked as a librarian at the University of Chicago. When not working or writing she can be found sailing on the Charles River in Boston or beaching on Cape Cod.

Be sure to follow me on BookBub to learn of new books and special sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/franc...

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction mystery set at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. Emily Cabot is one of the first female graduate students at the University of Chicago and finds herself working to clear her professor of a murder committed on the fair's grounds. I like the historical Chicago setting and the visitor's-eye-view of going to the fair, including its seamier side. Our heroine also enlists the aid of activist Ida B. Wells (who was present at the fair in real life). The solving of the mystery stretched credulity some, but I enjoyed it overall.

[Piyumi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several points I truly liked in this novel. The African American history the author has captured well. The African American characters included in the novel, who became the agents in progressing the story. How aptly the author had incorporated the very real struggle that women students went through and basically women went through to get anything accomplished and done back then. The setting in Chicago. The Fair that actually did take place. All these were great. I've read many Historical Mysteries, mainly based in England in the Victorian times. It was a pure pleasure to find a story set in America at that time. One thing I could not get hooked on, unfortunately, was the female lead. Her uncertainty, her clumsiness and her messing things up at vital points in the story was a tad annoying, and I felt the author could have worked on that just a bit, tweaked the character a bit to the positive. Also the case got solved a little hassle I though free, which was a surprise with the build up that was put through the chapters. However, an enjoyable read.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable historical mystery, written by a local author. You can't argue (with me, at least) with 1893 Chicago politics, the World's Columbian Exposition, and a young female lead who's one of the first graduate students at the new University of Chicago. It reads like first-rate YA fiction in description and dialog, and the plot is fairly transparent. But the writing style seemed right for this story and the time period. It is very realistic, weaving in actual historical people and events, and the author tackles the prejudices of the day in a refreshingly straightforward way. I liked the main character, Emily Cabot, and am already on to the next story in the trilogy that features her. A short, quick read.

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery at the Columbian Fair in Chicago

Chicago hosts the Columbian Fair, and of course with many mysterious events surrounding it, a murder occurs. It is up to our heroine to prove that her fellow researcher at the University is not the murderer. Good mystery. Great description of the fair.

[Adelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into the book with a bit of a wrong expectation – given the title I’d expected something that was more centred around the mystery – and on that notion it came across as very slow moving in the early chapters. There were too many characters being introduced one after another with little context to affix them to, and it hence became difficult to keep track of who’s who. I usually give a book 50 pages to get going, and that turned out to be enough for this one (unsurprisingly, since it is a relatively short one at just over 200 pages in total), and I did enjoy how it eventually panned out.

I liked how the mystery was used just to drive the storyline and give it a bit of pace, whereas a more historical context (based on true events) was used to drive the backdrop. I am not familiar with American history in general, and so had not heard of this Columbian Exposition which provides the locational setting for the book, and I liked how race issues were integrated into the story. The time setting was also well-explored – with the emphasis on how ladies should behave for instance – very appropriate for when it is set.

The afterword was also very nice, as it gave a concise summary of which parts of the book are based on true events and which are figments of the authors imagination. I was surprised to find more of the former than I’d expected! My major qualm with this one is that the main character was really weak, and I was even more surprised to find that this is the first in a series that features Emily Cabot. I didn’t particularly take to her character (not good for a series) and neither did I think there was much character development, at least in the space of this one. It might have helped if she had a particular characteristic – a quirk or similar – to stand out among other characters, rather than just as one of the characters in this particular story. It would be interesting though, to see how (if!) the author intends to expand on this in future books in the series – it seemed as though most of the characters apart from those closest to Emily were given closed endings so they won’t be taken forward – and for a quick and easy-to-read (I sometimes struggle with historical books, though I’m finding this less of an issue these days) history brief coupled with a mystery to solve in the backdrop I would recommend. I gave 3.5 stars, but for this combination I rounded up to 4.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Emily Cabot mystery series. I bought the first three of them because they were on sale through an ebook service I subscribe to.

I was not disappointed in the choice. In addition to a well-plotted mystery and quirky, multi-faceted female lead, there is a lot of interesting detail about the historical period - 1890s Chicago. Trying to solve a murder case that happens at the Columbian Exhibition (World's Fair), Miss Cabot is hampered not only by the strong prejudice against women in higher education and the professions, but also by the lynching practices of the post-Civil War South and the inherent cronyism and political corruption of the city -- mayor's office and police force, especially. She makes a lot of mistakes and frequently doubts herself and her abilities, but she is justified in the end.

In the second book she moves on to work at Hull House. Excited to find out what that's all about.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that completes my 2017 Book Riot "Read Harder Challenge". Authored by a University of Chicago Librarian, and the first in a series of mysteries set in Chicago at and after the Colombian Exhibition, it depicts the struggles for feminism and racial equality set amidst a murder mystery and municipal corruption. I will be adding the other book sin the series to my "Want To Reda" shelf.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting setting with a mix of fact and fiction. Some concepts about society still relevant today. First half of the book moved soooo s l o w l y! Never developed strong feelings pro or con for the protagonist.

[Jonna Higgins-Freese · Rating 5 out of 5]

So delighted to discover Allium Press and this lovely book set in Chicago.

[Raine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Great when history is brought back to life in such an intersting way!

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, quick read.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. I would classify it as a cozy mystery. It was a bit unbelievable but well written and I will read more from the series.

[Jack Riordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an enjoyable read during my vacation, makes me wish I had the rest of the series. I will look forward to picking up the other books sometime soon.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start my review by saying that I know the author and consider her a friend. That said I really liked the book, more than I expected to. Emily Cabot is one of the first female graduate students at the University of Chicago. She expects to spend a leisurely break in her studies with her mother, brother and friends visiting the 1893 World's Fair and instead finds herself trying to solve a murder. One of her professors, Dr. Stephen Chapman, is acussed of killing the abusive husband of his former fiancee, Marguerite. When all, including his colleagues abandon him, Emily alone sees that he is innocent and decides to find the real killer, not an easy task for a woman of that time. So armed with a stubborn will, an honest Chicago detective, and her somewhat feckless brother, Alden, she plunges ahead in spite of some devastating consequences and prevails.

Along the way Emily meets some interesting historical people like Ida B. Wells, Frederick Douglass, and the infamous Eugene Patrick Prendergast who assassinated Chicago Mayor Carter Henry Harrison. And, of course the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, The White City, in itself is also a character. Frances draws her characters well and most importantly keeps them in time and place, not an easy thing to do when you are writing in a different age. We tend to think that women can do any and everything but that was certainly not the case in the 19th century, and Emily is constantly reminded of that. While this is entertaining it certainly isn't insipid. What a change from some other mysteries I've read.

Finally, Frances comes by the topics naturally since she is the daughter of the late Edmund L. McNamara, FBI Agent, and 10 year Boston Police Commissioner and currently is a Librarian at the University of Chcago. If you like murder mysteries with well drawn characters and some history mixed in you'll like this book. I can't wait to read her next, Death at Hull House.

[Sheena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was okay but really the only part I liked was the fact that it was set at the fair but honestly it could have been set anywhere bc the fair didn't really play that big of a part. I hated the main character. I felt like she wasn't a complete character and not strong enough to be the lead. Some of the twists were surprising but the whole story was weak and too many people were involved and it was a long winding road on speculation. I don't buy the story even if it is fiction. it just doesn't seem plausible. Also I liked real people were tied into the story but the ending fell short for me.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this fictional account of the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Emily Cabot, one of the first women in the graduate program at the University of Chicago, becomes embroiled in a murder and tries to clear her friend' s name. Black activist Ida B. Wells features prominently in the quest to clear Emily's friend. "The White City" as the Columbian Exposition was called, must have been a magnificent sight in Jackson Park.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this first in a mystery series set in turn of the 20th century Chicago written by a U of Chicago academic librarian. This was especially interesting because it introduced Emily Cabot as one of the first women graduate students at U of Chicago, who basically works to solve a murder for which a dear colleague has been unjustly accused. Ida B. Wells is part of the plot with her involvement both in the World's Columbian Exposition as well as the pamphlet she published at the time exposing the horrors of lynching in the south. Very good read.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the Devil in the White City, it was interesting to read about places that are in Hyde Park, but that was a far as it went. The heroine, naive and uninteresting -- she's pursuing a masters in 1893 on crime, but why, she has nothing to say about it or anything. The mystery, boring -- who cares about some racist who beats his wife just 'cause he's rich? The wrongfully accused, who cares, he's two dimensional and as far as I can tell would rather be in his laboratory and who knows what he's working on other than some nebulous save the world from disease stuff.

[Mary Beth Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author is from Boston where her father was Police Commissioner and she is a librarian at the University of Chicago. The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition is the setting for this mystery featuring Emily Cabot, one of the first woman (fictional) graduate students. She captures race relations, local city politics and patronage, the emerging prominence of the University of Chicago, Hull House, Jane Adams, Ida B. Wells amidst the Worlds Fair in this book. Fun reading that is set during a time when chicago was entering world stage.

[Linda S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than Death at Hull House in that the murder mystery was central to the story and very well done. It was not as good as Death at Hull House as it was less about the city during that era. It still had quite a bit about Chicago and the World Columbian Expo of 1893, but it was more about the story. One interesting part to me was about Ida B. Wells, whom I've heard of but never knew more than sketchy details. She's a fascinating person.

[Betty410 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a librarian at the U. of Chicago after a lot of research into the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The heroine, Emily Cabot is working on a post-graduate study in sociaology when she becomes involved in trying to prove the innocence of a fellow researcher of murder. She is frustrated by thieves, gamblers and corrupt politicians. The suthor captures the probllems of women of that llday, prejudices about Blacks and charmingly uses the manner of verbal expression

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1893 at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, a young woman is determined to prove the innocence of a colleague who is wrongly accused of murder. McNamara weaves several historical events into the narrative (the assassination of Mayor Carter Harrison, Ida B. Wells working with Frederick Douglass at the Haitian Pavilion at the Fair), and she describes the disregard for women at the time accurately. However, the writing is stilted and there’s little depth to the characters.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this book was envisioning the Chicago World's Fair through the eyes of the visitors in this book. Clearly the author did a lot of research about the Fair and Chicago politics at the time and I learned something, always a plus for me. It was a quick read and I look forward to hearing the author speak at our library in September.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERDICT: This short novel set in Chicago 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition will be of interest to lovers of the White City, of history and mystery. Nice combination packed with many details related to local politics and issues of the time that could still be very relevant today.

read my full review here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/11/15/b...

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I very nearly gave it up without finishing it. Too many characters .... stilted dialog (even given the time period), and times where the characters spoke in a series of simple sentences. This interrupted the flow of the book.

[Bookish · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was halfway through this and could no longer bear the multitude of spelling errors. The word "discreet" was misspelled no less than five times (after the first time, it was spelled correctly in the next paragraph).

[Sonia Schoenfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. I loved the historical background of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago; if I were the editor I would have insisted McNamara include a map. I also thought the characters were a little flat, but I'll try the next one and see if they develop.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable plot, with characters that I tried to find interesting, but failed.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for Death In Pullman!

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great light read for over my Spring break.