The Family Way by Rhys Bowen, a Mysterious Review.

Review: Molly Murphy married Police Captain Daniel Sullivan a year ago and though she's happy — and now pregnant — she's also bored. She's been forced to give up her private detective agency by Daniel, who it should be said treats her as if she were made of fragile porcelain. In order to occupy her time, Daniel suggests employing a maid-servant, who Molly could train before the baby is born. After composing a letter to his mother asking for her advice, Molly mails it only to discover that the post office has a letter addressed to her at her old agency address. It was a request from a family in Ireland who hadn't heard from their niece, who had gone to New York to find employment. Could she help? Surely this was something Molly could look into with causing any stress or strain — on her body or her marriage — in The Family Way, the 12th mystery in this series by Rhys Bowen.

Molly's only lead takes her to Westchester County, where her mother-in-law lives. She decides to visit and while there conduct a discreet investigation. What she finds, however, is troubling. A convent is taking in unwed pregnant girls, teaching them the skills needed for future jobs as servants, and placing their babies up for adoption. While it may be the Christian thing to do, its association with Irish rebels, stolen children, and murder is most certainly not. Once again, Molly finds herself in danger.

The Family Way does a fine job recreating early 1900s New York City (and its suburbs), incorporating the growing women's movement into the storyline. The abundantly charming Molly, for example, is a suffragette, who loves her husband but wants more independence than he is willing to offer her. Her close circle of friends lend support on the issue but are also there to help when trouble arises, as it inevitably does. Though the crimes involve children, this is an appealing mystery made more so by Molly's efforts to do what is right.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Family Way.

Acknowledgment: Minotaur Books provided a copy of The Family Way for this review.

The Family Way

A Molly Murphy Mystery by Rhys Bowen