Busy Bodies: Claire Molly Mystery

By Joan Hess


Published By: Minotaur Books

Mortified, outraged and shocked are words that could easily describe Zeno Gorgias’ neighbors. Of course, he brought it on himself with his front lawn display of what he calls “interactive environmental art.” His latest work involves a barely clad woman strolling in his makeshift cemetery beside the centerpiece, a coffin. This cemetery is by no means a peaceful one. Loudspeakers boom sexually explicit sounds to the ever-gathering crowd.

Claire Malloy is having a cup of tea at the home of Miss Parchester, one such neighbor of the boisterous artist. The unconventional Miss Parchester feels Zeno is just exercising his right of expression, but Claire finds it hard to believe that the man in her life, Lieutenant Peter Rosen, can do nothing to shut down the three-ring circus that is creating such high emotion among the Willow Street residents.

Just when the situation seems at its pinnacle, a dead body is found in the notorious coffin-and this time it is not part of the artistic experience. Claire must find out just exactly who among the long list of angry suspects committed the crime while still keeping her sanity and her man.

I found the characters in this book quirky and outlandish, making it a very interesting read. One such character, Claire’s wisecracking daughter, adds substantial stress to the situation as only a teenager can do. It made me want to pour a glass of wine for Ms. Malloy and toast to her motherly resilience.

Busy Bodies is the tenth Claire Molly Mystery by Joan Hess, and it is a comical jaunt down the whodunit trail.

To further whet your appetite, included in the book is a first chapter sneak peak to number eleven in the series, Akin to Murder.

Originally reviewed for Armchair Interviews

In a Gilded Cage: Molly Murphy series

By: Rhys Bowen

Author Website

Published By: Minotaur Books

Determined, spirited and tenacious are just a few of the qualities that describe Miss Molly Murphy. After all, it is not just any young woman that can support the women’s suffrage movement, run a detective agency–and keep the attentions of her dashing, attractive, police captain beau all while just recovering from a nasty bout of influenza that has been sweeping its deathly hand across New York City.

At the encouragement of her neighbors, Molly marches headstrong in the Easter parade in a show of protest that women do not have the right to vote. There, she makes the acquaintance of Emily Boswell. Miss Boswell, although a Vassar alumni, has the unfortunate background of being orphaned and was raised by her aunt and uncle. She hires Molly to discover more about her parents and their regrettable end.

Molly takes the case and during her investigation meets another of Emily’s Vassar friends, Fanny. Fanny is wealthy, beautiful and spoiled. She also believes she has an adulterous husband. Fanny enlists Molly to solidify her suspicions, but as soon as Molly has a few findings to report, Fanny is stricken with illness and quickly dies.

Fanny is just the first death of several that are blamed on the ghastly epidemic but Molly isn’t totally convinced and she is determined to find out the truth and bring justice to her clients.

In a Gilded Cage is the eighth in the Molly Murphy series, by Rhys Bowen but it was the first I have read. I found that as I turned the pages I was able to step back in time right alongside Molly and share with her the discomfiture and prejudices of the time. Her inquisitive mind and gutsy determination makes her a character that you can’t help but admire.

I will look for the next in the series with much anticipation.

This review was originally posted on Armchair Interviews