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Murphy's Law
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
20 posts | 26 read | 24 to read
From the creator of the much-loved Constable Evan Evans mysteries comes a colorful new series set in turn-of-the-century New York City. When spirited redhead Molly Murphy was growing up a peasant on the coast of Ireland she always imagined there was something more in store for her. She couldn't have known how right she was until the day she became a murderer, albeit in self-defense. Under drastic circumstances, Molly is forced to strike out into a new world. With the police right behind her, Molly's only chance at escape is a false identity and a steamship that will take her far, far away: to America. When her ship sails into New York Harbor, with the majestic figure of the Statue of Liberty providing comfort and inspiration, Molly is sure her whole life is in front of her. But she's got one last hurdle to clear: Ellis Island. She is just one among thousands of immigrants on the tiny island, awaiting their fate with anxiety and hope. Unfortunately for Molly, before she is able to leave the island a man is brutally murdered, his throat cut from ear to ear, and coincidence and fate make her a suspect in a crime she didn't commit. Under a cloud of suspicion, and due largely to a growing mutual attraction between Molly and the handsome police captain in charge of the case, she is allowed to leave Ellis Island for Manhattan. Unfortunately, she's got a mission she couldn't have anticipated: clear her own name of murder. Alone in a new country with no one to lean on, Molly hits the vibrant streets of New York intent on finding out what really happened. After all, if she can't, she'll be sent back to Ireland, where the dreaded gallows await. With the sweeping skyline of 19th century New York and the gritty, pulsating underworld of recently arrived immigrants forming a vivid backdrop, Rhys Bowen transports readers back in time to America's not-so-distant past. Murphy's Law is a fascinating look at our immigrant history as well as an intensely absorbing page-turner.
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Pageturner1
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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My #serieslove2023 list. Some I have already started and others I am interested in. I may even add more to list.

Andrew65 A great list. You‘ve reminded me I need to get back to the Mrs Jeffries and the Molly Murphy Series. Good luck with the challenge. 1y
TheSpineView Some good series there. Good luck! 1y
Pageturner1 thank you @Andrew65 and @TheSpineView hoping to have a better year reading 1y
Andrew65 @Pageturner1 🤞🤞🤞 1y
TheSpineView 📚😊😀 1y
45 likes5 comments
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LibraryCin
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Pickpick

I really liked this one. Historical mysteries aren‘t always my favourite, but I think the historical aspect of this was really well done: dealing with the hardships of arriving as an immigrant, not really knowing anyone… finding a job, so she can eat and pay for shelter. I did like her relationship with the kids she brought with her, especially the little girl. Cont in comments...

LibraryCin I would have liked a bit more follow-up with that, but maybe that will come in future books in the series. This might be amongst my favourite cozy mysteries, probably due to the historical setting, but that can‘t be the only reason since (many) other historical mysteries don‘t pull me in like this one did 2y
10 likes1 comment
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julesG
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jon_dottingly Thank you very much. I'm excited to be here. I have a lot of content to share. 😀 3y
AmyG Well, isn‘t that the truth. 3y
GingerAntics 😂🤣😂 3y
53 likes4 comments
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Danay
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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2020 #75 Rhys Bowen is one of my favorite authors.

2 likes1 stack add
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suvata
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Mehso-so

Another book about Irish immigrants landing at Ellis Island in the early 1900s. Also a mystery ... so just right for a quick St. Patrick‘s Day read.

55 likes2 stack adds
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JoyBlue
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Panpan

I found this painful and tedious. Everything was way too convenient.

Crazeedi I liked the first couple books by her, but then I tried to read a couple that were just predictable and too simplistic or something 4y
Crazeedi @JoyBlue I know, some readers really enjoy, maybe I just read the wrong ones🙄 4y
72 likes3 comments
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Andrew65
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Last night started listening to Murphy‘s Law. Already got me hooked, but wasn‘t quite what I expected.

Tove_Reads I enjoyed the series, except for one thing. Once you get to the annoying thing, we can discuss it 😃 4y
Andrew65 @Tove_Reads That‘s intriguing. Enjoying the first one so far. 4y
Tove_Reads It‘s there in the first book, but grows bigger and more annoying 😃 4y
Andrew65 @Tove_Reads Will keep my ear out. 4y
57 likes1 stack add4 comments
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rockpools
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Pickpick

Yay! I finished a book!!

1920s Ireland. Molly Murphy needs to leave in a hurry, and finds herself travelling to New York. A murder on Ellis Island leaves a friend implicated - so she sets about investigating the real killer.

Warm-hearted, an entertaining love interest, lots of historic detail, & the difficulties of life for the new (poor) migrants is never glossed over. I enjoyed this on audio - will definitely be reading more in the series.

TrishB Yay 🎉 and great review. 5y
Cathythoughts Great review & beautiful pic 👍🏻💙 5y
68 likes2 comments
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rockpools
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Hello, Litsy, it‘s been an age (work, work, work 🥺😴🤓) Hope you‘re all doing great.

I actually found a library audiobook I wanted to read last night- really enjoying it so far. And who knew that Rhys Bowen is actually a woman called Janet Quin-Harkin?

Did I miss anything?

squirrelbrain Hey! Good to see you back... Love the cover of that book ❤️ 5y
Megabooks Hey! I hope you‘re doing well! 5y
rockpools @squirrelbrain 👋 Isn‘t it great? Don‘t know why I haven‘t noticed these before. Glad to be back - I‘ve missed you all! And really sorry to miss Yorkshire August 🙁 5y
See All 9 Comments
rockpools @Megabooks Hi Meg! How are things going? Sorry to bail on you all at the end of bfc last round - hit overwhelm. Again! Doing good thanks 😊. Not much reading going on, though... 5y
Megabooks @RachelO I‘m not doing my job in the bfc this round, tbh. I‘m reading well, but my fitness goals are in the toilet. Always glad to have you here, whether you have time to read or not. 💜 5y
CarolynM Nice to see you back. I have a copy of this one but I've never got around to reading it😬 5y
rockpools @CarolynM Hi Carolyn! I‘m only an hour in, but I think it‘s got a lot going for it. Will report back! 5y
TrishB Hi 👋 good to see you again. 5y
rockpools @TrishB Hi Trish, Happy September! How did it get this late in the year??! 5y
61 likes9 comments
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KathyWheeler
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this first book in the series and will definitely read more. One little detail jumped out at me that threw me out of the story a bit — a character had her legs bound but not her arms; she was then gagged and thrown into the water. She never removed her gag. Weather was weird — rained hard in the morning but was lovely this afternoon. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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A couple of good walks should finish this one. Headed to the Alabama Library Association convention in Point Clear tomorrow. There should be some pretty pics from there. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Generally, I have a specific path I take when I walk in the park; today I meandered. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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I started this series today; I think I‘m going to like it. #audiowalk

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BookishMarginalia
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Pickpick

Starting Hour 6 of #WinterStormReadathon and I‘ve just finished book 1. It‘s raining outside and I can hear the wind howling. Stormy weather after all.

Chrissyreadit This looks good- stacking! 5y
129 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BookishMarginalia
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Starting hour 3 of the #WinterStormReadathon — halfway through the first in the #MollyMurphy mysteries.

catebutler This looks like such a fun book! I‘ve read a few other series by this author and loved them! Looking forward to picking this one up! 5y
116 likes1 stack add1 comment
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SailorJohn
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
Pickpick

An enjoyable read. The main character has a lot of spirit.

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Tove_Reads
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Please suggest good cozy mystery series! I recently started reading Rhys Bowen‘s books. Jenn McKinlay is my fave. Love Ellery Adam‘s Book Retreat Mysteries. Have read for example Paige Shelton, Lynn Cahoon, Hannah Reed, Kate Carlisle, Joyce Tremel, and Rebecca Tope. 🙏🏼

BookwormAHN Try Preston and Child's Pendergast series. The first few are supernatural/horror mysteries but they progress to thrillers. Also Karin Slaughter is good. 6y
catherine2 Victoria Thompson‘s Gaslight series. If you like the Molly books, you will like hers too! 6y
Tove_Reads @catherine2 I asked the library to get the first one on Overdrive, and they did. Haven‘t read it yet, but thanks for reminding me! 6y
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Tove_Reads @BookwormAHN Hmm... supernatural is definitely not my thing, but I‘ll look into it, thanks! 6y
MyNightstandRunnethOver I second Victoria Thompson's gaslight series. 6y
Andrew65 Maisie Dobbs Series by Jacqueline Winspear 6y
Andrew65 Sebastian St. Cyr Series by C S Harris 6y
Andrew65 No.1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (edited) 6y
CarolynM Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton series starting with 6y
CarolynM Anything by Elizabeth Peters 6y
Tove_Reads @CarolynM Will check them out! 6y
Tove_Reads @Andrew65 I have Maisie on my TBR, never heard of Sebastian so will check it out. I just didn‘t care too much for N1LDA, but a lot of peeps love the series. 6y
CarolynM Sorry, misled you, the first Kate Shackleton is (edited) 6y
Tove_Reads @CarolynM Oh no, how will I ever get over this? 🤪😂😱 6y
Andrew65 Both Maisie Dobbs and Sebastian St. Cyr are historical mysteries. 6y
Andrew65 @CarolynM I‘ve not read them yet but my wife loves the Kate Shackleton books. 6y
CarolynM @Andrew65 Have either of you tried Sara Sheridan's Mirabelle Bevan series? I like those a lot too, but I'm not sure they are really "cosy". 6y
Tove_Reads @CarolynM Nope, never heard. Will check it out! 6y
Andrew65 @CarolynM Thanks Carolyn, not heard of those or the author, will need to check them out. 😊 6y
Andrew65 @CarolynM Just checked them out on the library site, I do know the titles now I see them. Have just Downloaded the first one, and they have the first three 👏 6y
39 likes20 comments
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rjsthumbelina
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Pickpick

Such a fun read! This really kept my attention and kept me wondering what would happen next. I loved the historical element of it: the main character comes over from Ireland to Ellis Island at the beginning. Really great, pretty light-hearted summer reading with history, murder, a smart heroine, and just a touch of romance. 😻

5 likes1 stack add
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saholmes
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
Pickpick

I enjoyed this book. It is well written and very realistic. Some parts made me extremely sad such as the poor living conditions and the characters' situations. Molly was a fantastic main character always looking for the next thing and helping others.

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Well-ReadNeck
Murphy's Law | Rhys Bowen
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Pickpick

Quick fun mystery set in the turn of the century NYC. Great bedtime read. 'Nite 😴

kspenmoll Like this author📚 7y
BookishMe I read her other series 7y
111 likes8 stack adds2 comments