Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace

December 1, 2019
A bluestocking proves her worth as a detective in a hunt for Jack the Ripper. Felicity Carrol is a wealthy young woman with several degrees and a passion for crime solving. When she receives a letter from the mother of her friend Inspector Jackson Davies, asking her to come visit him as "a matter of life and death," Felicity rushes to his side. Although he had initially ignored her when they met during her first case (Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit, 2019), Jackson soon came to rely on her scientific knowledge. Now Jackson is worn down with overwork and angst over the unsolved Whitechapel murders, and his health has worsened since he read an article about a seemingly identical murder in Placer, Montana. Determined to help him, Felicity sets off for Montana with her friend and servant Helen Wilkins to determine whether the Ripper has relocated to the United States. Money greases her way and allows her to buy a house in Placer as her base. Stepping off the stagecoach, she meets good-looking sheriff Tom Pike and informs him she's there to investigate the murder of Lily Rawlins. When Pike reluctantly agrees to talk to her, she tells him she plans to write a book of detective fiction using the horrifying crime as the basis. He doubts her story but gives her information and an area tour. When another prostitute is found badly mutilated, Felicity resolves to learn as much as possible, even bribing the undertaker to let her examine the body. Felicity and Pike are undeniably attracted to each other, and although he still doesn't like her sleuthing, he admits that she does turn up some helpful clues. Pike suspects two men who are blackmailing prostitutes and also suspects anyone, like the butcher, who's handy with a knife. Felicity, certain that the culprit is someone with medical knowledge, suspects a local doctor. As more murders follow, a frustrated Felicity risks her own life to unmask a mad killer. This colorful, action-filled mystery presents a novel twist in the continuing search for the identity of England's most notorious murderer.

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December 9, 2019
In Marcantonio’s entrancing sequel, set in 1889, to 2019’s Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit, wealthy heiress Felicity has put her family’s fortunes to philanthropic use, establishing a foundation to help the impoverished children of London’s East End. Scotland Yarder Jackson Davies, who became impressed with Felicity’s intellect and dedication to justice after her investigations in the previous book, falls ill after learning of the murder of a streetwalker, Lily Rawlins, in a Montana mining town that he fears is the work of Jack the Ripper. Having failed to catch the Ripper, Jackson considers himself responsible for Lily’s death. With Jackson’s encouragement, Felicity heads to the U.S. to track down the culprit, who she thinks may indeed be the Ripper. Despite the alliterative title, this is no genteel cozy, as the author doesn’t shy from vivid descriptions of the harsh life of prostitutes. Fans of Laurie King and Jacqueline Winspear will be thrilled by this capable, independent female protagonist. Agent: Elizabeth Kracht, Kimberley Cameron.

January 17, 2020

In the second book in the series (after Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit), Felicity, an educated, wealthy young British woman, leaves London in 1889 to pursue a mystery in the Wild West. Her friend, Inspector Jackson Davies, has made himself ill while trying unsuccessfully to solve the case of Jack the Ripper. When he reads an article about a prostitute's murder in Montana that closely resembles Jack's victims, Felicity promises Davies that she will travel to Montana and solve the case. She purchases a house in the mining town of Placer and brings her forensic equipment as well her friend and maid, Helen Wilkins. Felicity tries to pass herself off as an aspiring mystery writer intrigued by the recent murder but she doesn't fool Sheriff Tom Pike for long. Soon she is working alongside him as the body count starts climbing in Montana--just as it did in London. VERDICT Because of the change in setting, most of the characters from the previous book do not appear. Felicity retains her feisty spirit and wit and once again has to battle for acceptance and credibility in a male-dominated society. Readers will look forward to her next adventure.--Jean King, West Hempstead P.L., NY

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