Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #1) in Retro Chapter Chicks

Mar 08, 2018 Brina rated it really liked it

Shelves: immigration, mystery, historical-fiction

Women's history month is here and I decided to start the celebration with a bit of Irish spunk. Rhys Bowen is a celebrated writer, and my mother has been touting her Molly Murphy series for awhile now. As Irish luck would have it, my retro chapter chicks group is focusing on Irish women for the month of March. I decided that it was long overdue that I read Murphy's Law, the first of Molly Murphy's historical adventures.

Molly Murphy was never a traditional girl. She enjoyed swimming in the Atlan Women's history month is here and I decided to start the celebration with a bit of Irish spunk. Rhys Bowen is a celebrated writer, and my mother has been touting her Molly Murphy series for awhile now. As Irish luck would have it, my retro chapter chicks group is focusing on Irish women for the month of March. I decided that it was long overdue that I read Murphy's Law, the first of Molly Murphy's historical adventures.

Molly Murphy was never a traditional girl. She enjoyed swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, horseback riding, excelled in the classroom and was declared an "old maid" by the age of twenty three. Murphy had to be the mother to her younger brothers as her mother passed away when she was young. She did have a few suitors, yet one Englishman came on too strong to her and in the heat of the moment, she killed him. On the run from the English government who then controlled Ireland, Murphy fled her home village of Ballykillin and ended up in Liverpool, England. A chance meeting with Kathleen O'Connor lead to an instant friendship and resulted in Murphy escorting O'Connor's two young children to America as O'Connor lay dying of consumption.

On board the Majestic steamliner Murphy fell into an instant rapport with O'Connor's two children Seamus and Bridie and assumed the identity of their mother. Her goal is to bring them to their father unharmed, yet crime seems to find her. One Thomas O'Malley thinks he can manhandle Murphy along with the rest of the ship that is until Murphy puts him in his place. He leaves her alone until the ship docks in Ellis Island, until on the first night in America, O'Malley is found murdered. The easy route is to accuse Murphy and her traveling companion Michael Larkin. It is up to Murphy to prove their innocence before either is returned to Ireland and English rule and hung.

In this opening book, Bowen introduces readers to police captain Daniel O'Sullivan, with whom it appears Murphy falls into a long lasting relationship with. She also paints the historical picture of the underbelly of New York politics at the turn of the 20th century, focusing on the corruption inside of Tammany Hall. Alderman MacCormack is a picture of corruption and Murphy is determined to prove his wrong doing to the police. Yet, MacCormack is the champion of the Irish people and everyone loves him. He is the annual marshal of the upcoming St Patrick's Day parade. Murphy, however, is certain that MacCormack is behind O'Malley's murder and puts herself in harms way to prove her friend's innocence before MacCormack and his gang strike again.

Rhys Bowen magically transports her readers to turn of the century New York, a time when the hole in the ground was just that, and America was the land of opportunity. The Irish ruled the city, and Molly Murphy is ready to take it by storm. In likable characters Murphy, O'Sullivan, and the O'Connors, Bowen has created a cast who I can enjoy for the long haul. As I am currently looking for a new go to mystery series, Molly Murphy is spunky and definitely one of my main contenders.

4 stars ...more

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Sep 06, 2009 Phair rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, book-club, cozy-mystery

Really like this one- it moved along with lots of color & history which never got in the way of the story at hand. Wonderful sense of the period. I was surprised at the level of communication between Europe and the US re immigrant backgrounds. Would have thought it much easier to leave the old self behind & fade away in America with little or no back-trail. I also felt Molly was a bit TOO brave & too lucky in pursuing the crime on her own. Still, a fun start to a series with an appealing heroin ...more

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