The Hyde Park Murder

Eleanor Roosevelt #2

by Elliott Roosevelt

After being accused of a multi-million-dollar stock swindle, Alfred Doolittle Hannah dies in an apparent suicide, but First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt suspects murder

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Politics, Mystery Thriller

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 1985

About the author

Elliott Roosevelt (September 23, 1910 – October 27, 1990) was an United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mystery highlighting First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as she solves a murder mystery! This is second in the series and much better than the first book. Written by her son, the First Lady and FDR come alive on the pages. This murder mystery involves Wall Street high rollers, Joseph Kennedy and the SEC, and to add some flavor, Nazis!

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hyde Park Murder by Elliott Roosevelt is the 2nd book in the mystery series featuring his mother, Eleanor Roosevelt and his father, FDR. It's a unique and entertaining mystery series. Eliot makes a brief appearance in this story as well.

The Roosevelt's Hyde Park neighbour, Alfred Hannah is accused of being involved in a multi-million dollar stock swindle. Hannah's son, Bob, is engaged to close family friend, Adriana van der Meer, who also has a residence at Hyde Park. Because of the scandal, Adriana's father has rejected the engagement. Adriana goes to the Roosevelts who she considers as her aunt and uncle to ask for help. She supports Bob who believes his father is innocent. She wants to rush off and marry Bob against her father's wishes but Eleanor persuades her to wait and instead gets Adriana to agree to stay with the Roosevelts in DC while the investigation is sorted out.

Bob, on his own, begins an investigation, breaking into the firm in which his father is a partner to try and gather evidence. He finds clues that might indicate his father is innocent. Along with Eleanor, they continue to investigate. Eleanor enlists the help of the Head of the SEC, Joseph Kennedy. When Bob's father is found dead, the police in New York say it is a suicide but the facts don't add up for Bob and he thinks his father was murdered. Eleanor approaches New York's Mayor, La Guardia, and asks for him to investigate. La Guardia has a newly formed special police unit which he promises to use.

It's a rich, complex story which even involves German business men linked to Hitler. There is action, intrigue and just an entertaining story. I don't know if it was a unique concept back in the 80s to have real life figures portrayed as such in fictional series but it seems much more common now; Churchill's private secretary, Josephine Tey involved in solving crimes, etc. Anyway, it has been an enjoyable series so far. Now to try and find others. (3.0 stars)

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know FDR created the Securities and Exchange Commission but, after reading this book, I can see why he did.

The mystery in the book was brilliantly solved by Eleanor, and the historical facts included for background information are a real bonus.

[Suezq · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining story written by the son of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt in which the First Lady helps to solve a murder and a securities fraud scheme.

[Anne Hawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleanor Roosevelt helps a young girl whose parents want her to stop seeing the young man she intends to marry because his father has been arrested for financial scandal involving investments. She wants to prove that the young man has been framed. Unfortunately, the young man's father appears to have committed suicide, but Bob is sure that he has been murdered. As the plot develops other actual people like the newly appointed SEC Commissioner, Joe Kennedy become involved.

The plot has many twists and turns, but moves at a pretty fast pace and the history of the era is very interesting. It is a nice way to get a little history lesson with a pretty engaging mystery.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still clever casting the first lady as amateur detective and I enjoyed the setting since I live near Hyde Park but I found the financial wheeling and dealing hard to get into compared to the first book in the series.

[Connie N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the Eleanor Roosevelt mystery series

The best part about this book is the peek into the private lives of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, well, at least as far as this fictional mystery is concerned. But since it's written by their son Elliot, then it seems as though it must depict the main characters realistically. The supporting characters of Adriana van der Meer and her boyfriend Rob Hannah, as well as real-life people Sara Roosevelt (FDR's mother), Joe Kennedy (SEC Commissioner), and Fiorella La Guardia (NYC major) add a lot of dimension to the setting and background. In this mystery, a neighbor is arrested, then killed, which gets Mrs. Roosevelt involved. As she delves deeper into his business dealings, she finds there's a lot more to hide than she originally thought. What took off a star for me was the mish-mash involved in the stock market and New Deal laws that had recently been enacted at that time. It was confusing for me (despite Roosevelt's efforts to describe it), and the story got bogged down in these details. But I will still continue with this series to see what Mrs. Roosevelt is up to next.

[The Hobbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleanor Roosevelt doesn't realize how much she will learn about stocks and fraud when she help's her young neighbor Adriana van der Meer and Adriana's fiance Bob Hannah. Bob's father has been arrested for a huge stock swindle. Adriana's father will not let her marry the son of a criminal. Mrs Roosevelt believes Bob's suspicions that his father has been framed. When Bob's father is found murdered, the case takes a more sinister and international twist. By the time the investigation is over, Joseph Kennedy of the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York's Fiorella LaGuardia, and the President of the United States are involved. Bob Hannah learns much about his father that he never suspected.
Sometimes the book bogs down in descriptions of stockholding companies, stock swindling, and other fraudulent activities that stockbrokers understand better than the average reader. Still suspenseful.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy the mentions of historical characters in these books. This one has Joe Kennedy, LaGuardia, Al Smith, and more. There were times that I was puzzled as to why something was happening in this book. Sometimes some of the events seemed less than logical, but on the whole, I am finding the books satisfying, and the references to Ms. Roosevelt interesting if not quite believable. I do feel that some negative aspects of the characters are carefully avoided, which leaves me to wonder if the implications I have read in non-fiction might not be true, or whether Mr. Roosevelt is trying to steer a course of "speaking no evil", especially about his grandparents. That's a tough row to hoe.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

BK 2 in series. Eleanor Roosevelt steps in when a lovely young neighbor Adriana van Dee Meer is told she is not to associate with (much less marry) Robert Hannah, the son of another Hyde Park resident charged with a multi million dollar stock swindle. Politics, corruption of city officials, police and law partners of the accused man, secrets, Hitler’ German, investors, Swiss bank accounts all get tangled up with deadly results.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing like a hurricane type rain to make you want to hunker down and read. I've read several Eleanor Roosevelt mysteries over the years but could never find this one, the second in the series, until now. It starts with an New York state securities indictment that thwarts a budding romance. Mrs. Roosevelt is called upon to play cupid and winds up working with the newly organized SEC and NYC Mayor La Guardia to uncover 3 murders and a Nazi financial plot. Good stuff!

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series.
Bit convoluted and Mrs. Roosevelt spends too much time off stage and the young characters who do most of the action aren't as interesting.
There's a 'partners in crime' kind of vibe to the younger trio, but they are only okay and I found myself skimming their bits wanting Mrs. Roosevelt to come back.

Enough interesting bits of history, famous guest stars and a decent cozy vibe to keep me going, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as other volumes in this series.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much stronger than the first entry. This tale of Wall Street shenanigans and an ensuing crime spree is more coherently plotted, but the second half cedes too much time to a young man trying to clear his father’s name with macho derring-do.

[Barb Dudziec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining peak into the FDR white house and the people who worked there, combined with an interesting take on one of our most popular first ladies - from her son. Plus a mystery to solve!
Great fun

[Dick Pilskog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 30 years ago. The these dealt with murder of one Alfred who was thought it was a suicide. Thank goodness for his son turned out not to be his son, Bob. Good book. Was written by a Elliot Roosevelt who used the presented the Presidents name. Who cares.

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find these easy-reading mysteries to be quite enjoyable, particularly between heavier tomes. I don't normally like historical fiction where the author presumes to know how a prominent figure thinks, but coming from the son of the figures, I'm OK with it here. :)

[Arliegh Kovacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Elliott Roosevelt's books in the (fictional) series about his mother Eleanor involved in solving mysteries. Delightful. Full of other historical figures. And, an intelligent woman who calls in the local police, Secret Service, or the FBI once the killer is discovered.

[Becky Wiers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery. It’s a good read with a good ending. I enjoyed the “signs of the times” throughout the book since it is set in the 30’s. I’d recommend for an easy quick read for any mystery lover.

[Marcia Blum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting murder mystery with historic elements reflective of the years when Franklin and Eleanor resided in the White House.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While some of the trading info was rather confusing, I loved the story. These books have become a new favorite.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much as the first in the series, but I am expecting them to get better. I am going to try to read a couple more before I give up on them.

[Bradley Brill · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining story after heavier subject matter from recent books.
3+ rating. Frank Muller's usual capable storytelling.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This actually deals with neighbors in Hyde Park, who are playing cupid to Adrianna, who wants to wed Bob but his father has just been arrested for bond fraud. He commits suicide but an investigation reveals he was pushed and the bad cop also dies.

Involved are Joe Kennedy and other real people., plus a bunch of fictional ones.

[Della Tingle · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I expected more...this book is ok, but it simply wasn’t very exciting.

“A disordered mind is unlikely ever to be made up” (4).

I love the reference to Gretna Green on page 15. “...if he will manage to get her to their Gretna Green, wherever that may be, and marry her...” 😀❤️

Also love this phrase I use quite regularly in my life: “...for the love of Pete” (20). 🤪

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good. A young man's father is accused of selling securities without backing. The young man is love with a beautiful wealthy young woman who is a friend of Eleanor Roosevelt. When the father "commits suicide" (murdered) the believes that he has been murdered. His fiance and Eleanor belive him and Mrs. Roosevelt begins investigating.

As the tale unwinds there are more murders and the plot thickens. Are the man's partners responsible for his death? The thinks this may be so but the reader discovers that he is wrong. As one follows the story one discovers that the Germans are somehow involved as well as the man's partners in the firm. Yet who committed all the murders? Different people for different reasons and the ending has a surprise twist that I did not expect but won't reveal it here. Read it for yourself.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the peek into a different era, interesting plot and characters. Friend of the Roosevelt family's daughter is forbidden to marry her fiance because his father is facing charges in a stock manipulation scandal. Son tries to clear his father, convinced of his innocence. His father commits suicide...or was he murdered? Turns out there are 2 groups that want all of this buried, but Eleanor Roosevelt doesn't. Great look at real life historical characters, like New York Mayor La Guardia and Joe Kennedy. Also a little surprise near the end.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleanor Roosevelt was much more at the center of this mystery than in the first book of the series. But otherwise, they felt much the same. It's mostly the historical feel that is likely to keep me reading the rest, not the quality of the writing. The plot was fine, but the characters other than Mrs. Roosevelt and the president weren't really very well-developed.

[Suzib · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read several of this series off-and-on over the years. I decided to read them in sequential order. This the second in the series. They are fun, light reading and I enjoy the history mixed in with true events taking place in that era.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good to know the President and his wife! Fun mystery that has Eleanor Roosevelt helping solve a complicated murder revolving around the beginning of the SEC regulations with lots of real life characters.

[Bobby H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would give a 3 3/4 stars. Solid writing, nice historical piece but to much relying on historical figures to take what could be a decent "search for justice" to an "I am rich and powerful and I have powerful friends" tale.