Scandal and Murder among the "400"

MURDER AT BEECHWOOD (Gilded Newport #3)
Alyssa Maxwell
Kensington Books
May 26, 2015

Murder at Beechwood is the third book of a historical mystery series set in Newport, RI, during the 1890s, the "Gilded Age" when the richest Americans retired to their "cottages" (read "mansions") by the sea. Names like Vanderbilt, Astor and Fish were common among the summer residents. These  were lavish and ostentatious homes and the parties more so. All of New York's "400", so named after the number of people who could fit into Mrs. Astor's New York City ballroom traveled to Newport on a regular basis.

Emma Cross is a year round resident of Newport and a Vanderbilt poor relation. She is neither a real insider nor an outsider. Her Vanderbilt relations are fond of her so she moves on the fringes of Newport society and is invited to the parties. That's very handy since she is a reporter for the local newspaper and can cover the social events. After all what is the point of the lavish parties if the public doesn't get to read about them and marvel? She is somewhat of an anomaly in other ways as well: she supports her household on her own, has no real interest in marriage and has a reputation for taking in unfortunate young women and giving them a new start in life. Not many of the upper crust of Newport think that is an admirable pursuit, however.

Murder at Beechwood begins with Emma's discovery of an infant boy left on her front porch. Rather than simply turning him over for the authorities to deal with she is determined to find the mother. The only clue is a fine handkerchief with distinctive lace left with the baby. Very soon, bodies start turning up in Newport and Emma is sure that they are linked to the child and one of the eminent families. Someone is trying to stop her questions and she finds herself in real danger. Scandal, financial impropriety and madness lie beneath all the glitter of Newport.

Alyssa Maxwell bases many of the events of Murder at Beechwood on reality.The grand party at Beechwood that is so richly described really did take place in 1896. It's clear that she has an encyclopedic knowledge of Newport and the families. I wish that I had known that this was the third book so that I might have had a better understanding of the characters involved. That is easily remedied by downloading the previous books which I plan to do in short order. I would recommend it to readers who like historical mysteries with accuracy and somewhat unconventional heroines.

Thanks to Kensington and netgalley.com for an advance digital copy.

RATING- 3.5 stars