Murder at the Breakers

 In this first book in her Gilded Newport series, Alyssa Maxwell introduces us to her strong willed character Emma.  Emma is like many of the female protagonists you find in cozy mysteries.  She has a sense of curiosity and need to get to the bottom of a mystery.   She is a single woman who enlists the aid of family and friends in her quest for the truth.  The biggest difference in this book is Emma is a descendant of the Vanderbilt family and is doing all this independent sleuthing while living in 1895.  

Maxwell does a wonderful job of describing life in that era and specifically life as a female during that time.  She demonstrates the contrast between the very wealthy- the 400 as they are referred to, and the middle class as well as the working class in Newport, RI.  Etiquette and tradition dictate much of how Emma goes about investigating the sudden death she is a witness to.  Her independence and stubbornness are at odds with how her Uncle Cornelius Vanderbilt and her Aunt would like her to behave.  

The story does a wonderful job of developing Sadie as a character as well as her relationships with family and friends.  The reader cannot help be feel the emotions Sadie does as she realizes not everyone from her childhood is a trustworthy and honest as she would like them to be.  

I enjoyed this book and am interested to continue reading the series set in the Gilded Age in Newport, the summer home of the super rich.  

Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Wonderful historical mystery

This book is a wonderful mix of characters and history. It is easy to visualize being back in the late 1800s in Newport RI It’s a glimpse of what the life of the Vanderbilts and Astors must have been like and what it was like to be a servant to them. The main character, Emma, is a strong willed independent and smart woman born into a good family but not the wealth. Her devotion to her brother and friends is very apparent as is her steadfast support of them. She finds herself questioning much of what she’s believed and known about people she has grown up with in Newport. She discovers her strength and independence as she fights to clear her loved ones name. I looked forward to reading more books set in tho gilded age in Newport 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #102
2. Literary Escapes-  RI
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 89
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 34
5. Medical Examiner-  2 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter- new target 38
7. Mystery Bingo: 
   • Clues:  Monogram
   • Red Herring :  Lighted window
8. Historic Fiction   #2020HFReadingChallenge  book 8