Description (from cover):'Molly Murphy--now Molly Sullivan--is a year into her marriage, expecting her first child, and confined to the life of a housewife. She's restless and irritable in the enforced idleness of pregnancy and the heat of a New York summer in 1905. So when a trip to the post office brings a letter addressed to her old detective agency asking her to locate a missing Irish serving maid, Molly figures it couldn't hurt to at least ask around, despite her promise to her new husband, Daniel, to give up her old career as a detective. One the same day, Molly learns that five babies have been kidnapped in the past month.
Refusing to let Molly help with the kidnapping investigation, Daniel sends her away to spend the summer with his mother. But even in the quiet, leafy suburbs, Molly's own pending motherhood makes her unable to ignore these missing children. What she uncovers will lead her on a terrifying journey through all levels of society, putting her life--and that of her baby--in danger.
The latest entry in Rhys Bowen's best-selling Molly Murphy series will delight fans and win over newcomers with its elegantly plotted mystery, atmospheric historical detail, and vivid characters.'
My thoughts:
Whoever wrote that blurb should at least pay attention to the book when they do so. It states that this book takes place in the summer of 1905, but Chapter One opens in July 1904. Hmmm..someone didn't do their homework. They could have at least gotten that much right at least. Have you ever picked up a book in the series just to catch up with the characters. You're not so worried about the plot line and the twists and turns, you just relish catching up with characters who feel like your friends. That is the way I am with the Molly Murphy mysteries. The plot in this one was okay, nothing special, but it still was a fabulous read because Molly is now happily married and expecting a baby.
The murders seem to be a little to neatly wrapped up, but who cares. All that I cared about was seeing if Molly made it through her pregnancy okay and that she had her baby. Thank God Bowen doesn't leave the reader hanging on that point. I don't think I could have made it to the next book without knowing. The murders and mysteries all seem jumbled at the beginning, but of course Molly solves the mystery and wraps up several plots all at once. Well, it just wouldn't be a Molly Murphy book otherwise.
If you love Molly's quirkiness and Daniel's protectiveness and not to mention, the crazy antics of Gus and Sid, then you won't be disappointed in this one. The characters are all true to form and it's like hanging out with friends you haven't seen in a while. I tend to be a little sentimental with this series because it was simply one of my first historical mystery series that I fell in love with. Rhys Bowen can do no wrong with this series or with the Lady Georgiana series as well. A must read for Molly fans. Not the best book in the series, but a good quick read. I highly suggest you read the previous ones in the series and not jump right into this one without reading the predecessors as you will be confused. I envy you if you are new to this series and hope that you come to love it as much as I do.
Overall Rating: 4
Title: The Family Way
Author: Rhys Bowen
Series: Molly Murphy Mystery #12
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Pages: 305
Genre: Historical Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was selected from the library by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
