historical mystery | Book Girl & Little Bear

The Harvey Girl by Dana Stabenow

A Western crime novel set in New Mexico in 1980, this is the first book in a planned series featuring Pinkerton agent Clare Wright. After a train robbery and murder led Fred Harvey to contact the Pinkerton Agency, Clare goes undercover, trains as a Harvey Girl, and arrives in Montaña Roja to work as a waitress at the Harvey House restaurant, near the train station.

I have long been fascinated by Harvey Girls, probably since watching Judy Garland sing about the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe Railway in The Harvey Girls movie, released in 1946. Last year I reviewed The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay. The train robbery Clare’s investigating was not a hold up of train passengers, but rather the diversion of freight cars onto a side track.

At 22, Clare is smart, attractive, and carries a derringer. She quickly learns just how hard Harvey Girls work. Bat Masterson and Mark Twain make appearance in the novel, which adds to the book’s appeal, as does the gorgeous scenery. Clare uncovers a number of secrets, but which ones are connected to her case? I enjoyed the setting, found Clare appealing, and liked that the plot was not predictable. In between working in the restaurant and exploring the town, Clare has some time for dancing and flirting. I wonder where Clare is headed on her next case. The Harvey Girl is an interesting series start from an award-winning author best known for her contemporary Alaskan mysteries featuring Kate Shugak, and also for a series set in ancient Egypt. Breakup is a fun place to meet Kate Shugak, and Death of an Eye is the first in the Eye of Isis series.

Brenda

Murder on the S.S. Cleopatra by Sara Rosett

This historical mystery is the sequel to Murder Among the Pyramids, with a third book planned. In 1924, Blix Windway, an adventurous lady traveler, embarks on the Blue Lotus Line steamer S.S. Cleopatra for a cruise down the Nile, as does her new friend Hildy Honeycutt. Blix takes photos and gives lectures about her travels, occasionally funding her travel by working as a paid companion.

Blix has a small but charming cabin, while Hildy has a much larger one. Blix is startled to meet Rafe Briarcliff on board, the handsome but annoying man who shared some of her recent adventures in Cairo and at the pyramids. Rafe is travelling undercover, assessing the ship and crew for the Blue Lotus Line. Hildy gets a couple of anonymous threatening notes and reluctantly shares a big secret with Blix. They get to know the other travelers before a suspicious death, or possibly two, occurs.

The captain asks Mr. Briarcliff and Blix to interview all of the travelers in hopes that they can solve the mystery before the ship arrives at Luxor. The ship is described in just the right amount of detail, as are the travelers, crew, and their activities. Rosett really did her research on 1920s Egyptian tourism, but shares just enough of what she learned to enhance the mystery, not overwhelm it. Gossipy tidbits from a fictional newspaper begin each chapter. I read the deluxe trade paperback, which includes extras such as photographs of the main characters, the deck plan of the ship, and color illustrations of a blue lotus. I enjoyed this book just as much as Murder Among the Pyramids, and look forward to reading about Blix’s adventures in Luxor.

Brenda