Did a Baby Leads to Murder?
I’m quickly getting hooked on Alyssa Maxwells Gilded Newport series. The third book in the series was calling to me, so I worked Murder at Beechwood into my February reading schedule. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed it.
This book opens at the end of June 1896. Emma Cross, a distant relation of the Vanderbilts, is surprised one morning when she finds a baby has been left on the doorstep of her home. There is no note or any other way to identify where he came from. But Emma is determined to find out who the parents are so she can help in any way she can.
Her inquiry leads her to Beechwood, where Mrs. Caroline Astor is holding a lawn party to entertain some visiting family friends. But the day ends in tragedy when a death occurs. It appears to be a tragic accident until Emma uncovers some evidence that sabotage was involved. Can she figure out what is going on? Does it have anything to do with the baby? Or is there another motive?
This book does a fabulous job of mixing real people in with the fictional. We have several of these real people over the course of this book, but they blend so completely with the fictional that it is easy to believe everything was really happening. I love that.
And yes, this means that the characters come across as real. This is only book three, but I’m already invested in the characters’ lives and want to see what will happen to them next. I got just as invested in the new characters as I did the returning ones.
And that makes the plot engrossing. I always had a hard time putting the book down and returning to our time when real life interrupted. Despite the summer vacation vibes setting, this book does get serious, but it pulls off that juxtaposition well. The solution worked for me. It was a bit abrupt, but that’s a minor complaint.
I especially liked that the plot involved some unusual elements. I’m not going to say any more, but the creativity was appreciated.
I’m already plotting when I can get back to the Newport of 130 years ago. If you are looking for an excellent trip back in time, you’ll be glad you picked up Murder at Beechwood.
Check out the rest of the Gilded Newport Mysteries.
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