February 4th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

 It's Friday!  And that means it is time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

This week, I'm featuring Murder in Morningside Heights, the nineteenth Gaslight Mystery from Victoria Thompson.

Yes, I'm still catching up on this series, but I'm enjoying every stop along the way.  I'm actually getting close to finishing, too, since book twenty-five comes out in April.  I doubt I'll finish this year, but I'm planning to officially catch-up next year.

But for today, let's talk about this book.  The series is set in New York City in the 1890's, and this is the first book since retired NYPD detective Frank Malloy agreed to open a detective agency.  And that sets the scene for the beginning:

Frank Malloy, Confidential Inquiries.
Frank hesitated a moment to admire the sight of his name in gilt letters on the frosted glass of the office door.  The "Confidential Inquiries" had been his mother-in-law's idea.  Elizabeth Decker felt that "Detective Agency" was somehow undignified and might attract the wrong type of client.  Frank wasn't sure what the wrong type of client might be for a private detective agency, but he was more than willing to give his new business at least a hint of respectability.

No, these are not humorous mysteries, but as you can see, there is a strong hint of humor running through them.  I feel like that has increased as the series has gone along, and it is something I really enjoy.

Meanwhile, over on page 56, we find this:

She was still frowning, not sure what to make of him, but she let him carry the basket and follow her back into the steamy warmth of the kitchen, where a huge pot of water simmered, ready for the next load of wash.
He wiped his feet carefully before entering, knowing this would please his hostess.
"Put that basked down anywhere," she snapped as she pulled off her coat.  "And close the door if you're staying."

I'll be interested to seeing your reactions to this since, out of context, it feels differently than it did when I was reading that page.

I've just finished this book, and, as usual for the series, I enjoyed it.  Look for my full review next Thursday.

I hope you enjoy your weekend.  Those in the path of the snowstorm, do your best to stay warm.  We won't talk about my weather in sunny Southern California, okay?  Or the fact that I'm doing a mud run tomorrow.