I’m delighted to share my review of Deception by Gaslight, the first in a new historical mystery series by Kate Belli. If Gilded-age New York, cozy mysteries, and subtle romance between strong-willed protagonists pique your interest, you may enjoy this book. Read on for details.
Deception by Gaslight by Kate Belli
Genre: Historical mystery
Publication: Crooked Lane Books, 6 October 2020
Glittering Gilded-Age New York holds its lavish charms–and a litany of deadly sins–as intrepid reporter Genevieve Stewart uncovers a trail of corruption and murder.
As a chill sets in on New York City in the winter of 1888, a jewel thief dubbed the “Robin Hood of the Lower East Side” has been stealing from the city’s wealthiest and giving to the poor. Genevieve Stewart–a young woman whose family is part of Mrs. Astor’s famed 400 but who has forged a life of her own as a reporter–decides to chase the story, but gets more than she bargained for: a murder victim sprawled in a dark alley in the dangerous Five Points neighborhood.
A handsome neighborhood tough comes to her rescue–but when she encounters the same man at a glamorous ball a few nights later, she realizes he’s society scion Daniel McCaffrey. Could this be her Robin Hood? When two more murders rock the Knickerbocker world, it becomes apparent that something much more sinister is afoot than a few stolen diamond necklaces. Genevieve is determined to prove that Daniel is Robin Hood–but she’s loath to believe he is a killer as well. From the glittering lights of Fifth Avenue to the sordid back alleys of Five Points, the truth is just one murder away. (from Goodreads)
My thoughts
I had mixed feelings on this book.
I love historical mysteries, and this premise caught my attention. While there was a lot to like, it took me a long time to get into this story. Most of the time when this happens to me, the problem is the characterization.
That’s not the case here. I did like the main characters and thought Belli did a good job with them.
Characterization
Genevieve is a delightful heroine. Left at the altar by her fiancé a while back, she stays away from romance and concentrates on her career in journalism. Now if only her editor would let her write more than society columns about engagement balls, flower shows, and PT Barnum’s “Best Baby” contest, she could prove that she’s just as good a journalist as her male colleagues. If she could only have that break-through story. Like the identity of Robin Hood . . .
Daniel is the heir to the late Jacob Aster’s fortune, though no one knows why. Is he Aster’s illegitimate son? A nephew? A distant relative? Who is this man?
Ever since he inherited it, journalists and society have dogged his steps, determined to find out more about this good-looking bachelor. Needless to say, he has no reason to like the persistent Genevieve Stewart, especially once she becomes convinced that he’s Robin Hood. The problem is, he needs her help digging up information buried in newspaper archives, information that points to a larger conspiracy . . .
It was fun to see the two leads develop a working relationship. Yes, there’s a romantic element to it. But there’s more to Genevieve and Daniel’s relationship than their subtle physical attraction. These are two people who can complement each other’s strengths. I sense the beginning of a true friendship between them.
Unlike most of the Astor 400 families, the Stewarts are delightfully eccentric. One brother is an archeologist in Egypt, battling sand and bugs. Another brother is a rising star in architecture, and Genevieve senses that he’s hiding something. Her mother has gone to jail for speaking on such unladylike topics as the women’s suffrage and birth control. Her father is notorious for his court battle to protect an almost-extinct bird species. The wealthy Mrs. Bradley wishes to use their feathers to decorate a hat, and Mr. Stewart braves public ridicule to protect the Koola bird. (Mrs. Bradley hasn’t forgiven him, either.) They love and support each other, including Genevieve’s fledgling career as a journalist.
Plot
While I enjoyed the book, I did have some qualms about the mystery itself.
Much of the plot relies on the characters’ gut feelings: Daniel senses that he can trust Genevieve (though he trusts almost no one); Genevieve senses that Daniel is connected to Robin Hood (though there’s little proof beyond an overheard bit of conversation); a certain character’s death is connected to these robberies, and so on.
It’s not bad. Maybe once or twice is okay. But it’s not satisfying. I had to rely on the characters telling me their intuitions rather than seeing evidence to make those connections myself.
There are also too many coincidences. Sometimes people are conveniently and unrealistically available and willing to give information to Genevieve and Daniel.
I also had issues with certain things from a writing craft perspective. (I have spent too much time beta reading fiction not to notice certain weaknesses.) It bothered me a great deal and made it difficult for me to concentrate on the story.
Yet halfway through the novel, my interest picked up. Someone I had dismissed as a nasty-ish minor character acts unexpectedly brave in an unanticipated and very public manner.
From there, I was hooked. Several characters who had appeared shallow ended up playing more decisive roles in the action. I also enjoyed the mystery’s resolution. But I had mixed feelings about the book’s ending, which felt like the beginning of another book.
First in a series
This appears to be the start of a series. There’s certainly plenty of potential material for future mysteries. The Stewart family alone would cover a few books! Genevieve’s BFFs, Callie and Eliza, as well as Daniel’s close friend Rupert, all have potential as stories. Save for a cousin, Daniel’s own family is dead. But his servants are all from the wrong side of town and could play larger roles in future mysteries. I’m especially hoping Asher, the prizefighter-turned-personal secretary, will have a sizeable role. Kate Belli’s created a cast of intriguing characters who can be explored in greater depth.
Overall, this was a good start to the series. Despite my problems with certain aspects of the writing and plotting, the characters have enough depth to keep my interest. I will be interested to see where book two takes Genevieve and Daniel.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Like this? Read that!
If you like reading historical mysteries with female journalists, try The Watchers of the Dead by Simon Beaufort.
Talk to me! What do you think?