Patricia Marcantonio

1889. Wealthy, brilliant and very well-educated Felicity Carrol wants nothing more than to use her prodigious intellect in solving crimes. Because there is no one better. So when her friend Inspector Jackson Davies of Scotland Yard tells her he believes that Jack the Ripper is back to his killing ways in Placer, Montana she decides to go.
I just didn't take to the character of Felicity. I felt she had no likeable characteristics and just too unbelievable. That combines with the style of writing made it difficult to finish the book. Though I expect many people will love the fast-paced story.
A NetGalley book… (altro)

Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace is the second book in the Felicity Carrol Mystery series.

Felicity has worked with Inspector Davies in the past and is surprised that she hasn’t heard from in a while. When she gets a message from his mother asking her to come immediately to there flat. She finds Davies seriously ill, having spent excessive hours in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. As she is about to leave, Davies hands Felicity an article from the New York Times, that a colleague had given him, describing deaths much like those attributed to Jack The Ripper. These new deaths are in the small mining town of Placer, Montana. She wishes that she and Davies could go there to pursue the killer, but she knows that Davies is in no condition to make the trip.

Instead, Felicity and her former nanny, Helen are heading for the wild west of Placer, Montana. Upon arriving in Placer, one of the first persons she meets is Sheriff Pike. Felicity has chosen as her cover-story, that she is a writer and is there to gather information on the deaths for her book. Shortly after arriving another prostitute is killed and she can convince Pike to let her view the crime-scene and inspect the body. With her medical knowledge she can convince Pike that she can be a valuable assistant to his investigations. Before long another two mutilated bodies are added to the investigation. Before long she begins to wonder if she will ever be able to find the killer.

The story is well-written and very interesting. The book contains a cast of well-developed and interesting characters. I feel that the author may have taken some liberties with time-period, but at the same time helped with the telling of the story.

I will be looking forward to the next book in this exciting historical mystery.… (altro)

This story begins with a fire and an explosion when something goes wrong during one of Felicity Carrol's scientific experiments. It is a great introduction to a young woman far more interested in science, history, and medicine than in following the path of most rich, well-bred young women into marriage.

She has no relationship with her father who has ignored her since the death of her mother and older brother when she was a small child and left to the servants to raise. However, she found a new father figure in Earl William Kent who was her mentor when she attended the university. When she learns that Kent has been murdered and a valuable artifact related to his strong interest in King Arthur stolen, Felicity is determined to bring his killer to justice.

Scotland Yard is also on the case in the person of Inspector Jackson Griggs Davies who isn't necessarily eager for Felicity's help. However, her photographic memory and extensive knowledge of history do give him clues he wouldn't otherwise know. When Kent's murder is only the first of a series of murders where the victim is distantly related to royalty and a collector of items related to King Arthur, Felicity needs to increase her knowledge of the new science of forensics which includes taking fingerprints to find the murderer.

This story has an intriguing main character who is brilliant but also vulnerable. Her desire for her father's love and respect made me feel sorry for her. I did like that she wasn't afraid to venture into situations that were unfamiliar to her like visiting thieves and villains. I liked her relationship with Davies.

This was a good start to a historical mystery series with a great setting and interesting characters.… (altro)

serial-killer, suspense, women-sleuths, law-enforcement, England, Montana, murder-investigation

What an intriguing twist on the old cold case!
Scientifically inclined and having a medical degree, heiress Felicity Carrol had been assisting Scotland Yard Inspector Jackson Davies with the dead end case of the WhiteChapel murders. He became so obsessed with finding the killer that his health gave out just when he acquired an interesting newspaper article from America indicating a murder in Montana with a nearly identical MO.
A tad obsessed herself, Felicity sees to it that her friend has the best medical care, packs what's needed, takes her friend and companion with her and heads off to Montana. There she meets with the sheriff and seems to be just in time for the next murder! She drives him nuts on several levels with her scientific equipment and ideas but less regard for legality of proof. Then there are more murders and public fear. Great characters and world building, descriptions are a mite graphic in some instances, and a few of the experiments are quite fictional, but so is the novel. I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (altro)