Tuesday, February 4, 2020

ARC Review: Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace by Patricia Marcantonio

Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace
Author: Patricia Marcantonio
Series: Felicity Carrol (Book 2)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (February 11, 2020)

Description:  Heiress and amateur detective Felicity Carrol makes a perilous journey to apprehend a notorious murderer who has terrorized England--and now continues his vicious killing spree across the pond.

Felicity Carrol would rather be doing just about anything other than attending balls or seeking a husband. What she really wants to do is continue her work using the latest forensic methods and her photographic memory to help London police bring murderers to justice, so when her friend, Scotland Yard Inspector Jackson Davies, weak from injury, discovers a murder in a wild mining town in Montana that echoes the terrible crimes in England, Felicity decides to go herself.

In Placer, Montana, her first obstacle is handsome lawman Thomas Pike, who uses his intuition as much as his Colt in keeping law and order in this unruly town. When the murderer strikes again, Felicity begins to suspect Davies is correct: Jack the Ripper has come to America. Felicity sets out to find the killer in a town chock full of secrets, shadows, and suspects, but as the body count rises, this intrepid sleuth faces her most dangerous adversary yet--and discovers that not all killers are as they seem.

My Thoughts: Felicity Carrol has been busy since her father died and she inherited his vast estate. She has plans to modernize, raise workers wages, and educate those who want an education. She hasn't seen her friend Inspector Jackson Davies for a while. When his mother asks her to visit, she is surprised to find him very ill. He made himself sick pursuing every possible lead in the Jack the Ripper case which terrified London until it abruptly ended.

Now Jackson has received a newspaper article from a small mining town in Montana which leads him to believe that Jack the Ripper has found a new home. Too ill to travel, Felicity volunteers to go to Placer, Montana to see if she can find the illusive Jack the Ripper.

In Montana she meets Sheriff Tom Pike who has his own ideas about the person who is murdering prostitutes in such a brutal way. However, after consulting with Scotland Yard, he is happy to have Felicity's assistance with her knowledge of medicine and forensics.

I thought the setting was very well done and the characters interesting in this historical mystery. Felicity might be a little bit too good to be realistic but her weakness (her prejudice against men she sees as images of her father) does help to humanize her.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this one.

Favorite Quote:
He gave a nod of agreement. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"You ever play with dolls when you were a little girl?"

"Yes, but I took them apart."

He laughed. "That figures."
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

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