Series Review: Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mysteries

Do you like murder? Do you like mystery? How do you feel about a satisfying slow burn romance, with the heat and longing intensifying over several books? What if I told you Victoria Thompson’s “Gaslight Mystery” series combines all these things and more? Hopefully, you’ll say “sign me up!” but if you need a little more encouragement, read on because I have a lot of love to share.

Beginning in 1890s New York, the series follows the adventures of former socialite/current midwife Sarah Brandt and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy. As a midwife willing to help women even in the poorer parts of the city, Sarah (usually) inadvertently finds herself near the family and friends of murder victims, and her sense of justice won’t let her leave the investigations alone, much to Malloy’s chagrin. But when investigations lead the surly Irish cop to the higher echelons of New York society, he can’t refuse help from the daughter of one of the most powerful Knickerbocker families. As they work together, they grow as individuals and as partners, both in their work and in their personal lives.

The books follow a murder-of-the-week format that fans of old-school episodic television will find familiar – and comforting, if you’re like me and rewatch shows like Scarecrow and Mrs. King on the regular. They have a format – a certain pace for the solving of the mystery, certain character “moments” you can expect to see book-to-book – and Thompson writes them so each can be read as a standalone mystery. But if you ask me, I’ll tell you to start from the beginning and read every book because Thompson is doing some slow, steady, and satisfying character work, and you don’t want to miss the small moments that signal greater changes.

At the start, Frank and Sarah’s relationship can only be read as antagonistic. Which makes sense: he’s not only from the marginalized Irish community but also a member of the corrupt police force, taking bribes as a matter of course because he can’t support his mother and disabled son on his meager salary. Sarah, on the other hand, may work for her living, but she’s clearly from a higher class, and her unwavering belief in right and wrong challenges his narrow view of the world. But as they continue to cross paths, they progress from a reluctant alliance to mutual respect and friendship to, eventually, love, and they’re both better people for it. While Sarah learns the dangers of “playing detective” and adds caution to her natural bravery, her resourcefulness and integrity make Frank change his misogynist way of thinking and also reassess his definition of justice.

“Frank wondered when he had become an honorable man. He certainly hadn’t been one when he first met Sarah Brandt. The process had been gradual, too, sneaking up on him and taking over before he even suspected.” –Murder in Morningside Heights (“Gaslight Mystery” #19)

This gradual development of character and romance is what makes the series a favorite for me. It’s such a perfect example of this kind of storytelling – and of a slow burn romance done right: the obstacles arise organically from the character setup, the pace moves steadily (giving glimpses of progress that make our hearts flutter because did you see, she just checked her hair because she knows he’s coming! this is attraction!! without being frustratingly stingy), and then when they do finally get together, the writer actually knows what to do with them, and they’re just as engaging, strong, and ship-worthy as ever. It’s not every writer who can pull off a super slow burn like this, sadly, but Thompson proves that she can, and it’s such a satisfying arc to read.

The most exciting installments, of course, are the mysteries that directly involve Sarah and Frank or their close friends and family because these ones give us more time to sit with their emotions and reactions. But even when it’s a “routine” murder case, the books still entertain. As I mentioned, the familiar comfort of format and genre is part of it, but Thompson also populates the world with colorful characters and draws on the history of New York and its communities. Some of my favorite cases take place in Little Italy or Chinatown – one especially lurid murder gives us a chance to explore the Bowery. Then of course, there are historical figures and events. Theodore Roosevelt, whose political rise from police commissioner to Assistant Secretary of the Navy to governor (and, one can anticipate, to U.S. President) is tracked throughout the series, and one of our supporting characters even joins Roosevelt’s Rough Riders for the the 1898 Spanish-American War. The newsboys’ strike of 1899 also plays a role in a later book.

Now, if you’ve followed my toddler of a blog for any length of time, you’ve probably seen my raving about the “Gaslight Mysteries,” and you know I’m addicted. And that’s because of all the reasons outlined above – and many more I didn’t include because I don’t want to spoil the most interesting turns (but perhaps I should do a separate post for my favorite gal, Maeve, at some point?). If you’re a fan of old-fashioned mysteries, I highly recommend giving this series a chance, and the next book, Murder on Wall Street, is coming out April 27, so this is the perfect time to catch up! If you want to know more, are just starting out, or even if you’ve already read the series, please let me know because I am always here to talk about it!

Happy reading!

–b