Murphy's Law: A Molly Murphy Mystery

By Rhys Bowen

Book Overview

The novel that started it all, Murphy's Law, will delight readers old and new of this remarkable, bestselling series.

Molly Murphy always knew she'd end up in trouble, just as her mother predicted. So, when she commits murder in self-defense, she flees her cherished Ireland, under cover of a false identity, for the anonymous shores of America. When she arrives in New York and sees the welcoming promise of freedom in the Statue of Liberty, Molly begins to breathe easier. But when a man is murdered on Ellis Island, a man Molly was seen arguing with, she becomes a prime suspect in the crime.

If she can't clear her name, Molly will be sent back to Ireland, where the gallows await, so using her Irish charm and sharp wit, she escapes Ellis Island and sets out to find the wily killer on her own. Pounding the notorious streets of Hell's Kitchen and the Lower East Side, Molly undertakes a desperate mission to clear her name before her deadly past comes back to haunt her new future.

*BONUS CONTENT: This edition of Murphy's Law includes a new introduction from the author and a discussion guide

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 125029777X
• ISBN13: 9781250297778
• Release Date: December 2018
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Murphy's Law

I really enjoy the Murphy' Law because it is fun to follow Molly along her trip. She has had some interesting things happen to her, she leaves Ireland and she fnds a way to get to come to the states. Molly starts out in the right place at the right time, but she is going to bring two children with her that are not hers. Molly must travel in the bottom of the ship because she is not rich. While traveling along she has bad experiences, Molly tries hard to keep herself and the two children safe. Molly must keep a secret all through her travels even know she meets a young boy who be friends her. They encounter a not so friendly man on the ship who likes to cause problems. Molly tries hard to stay away from the man. They arrive in Ellis Island and must to through the proper channels to be let into the states. During this time something bad happens and Molly is questioned by the police. She finally is allowed into the States and she must live with some people she does not like staying with. She is questioned by the police several times and so she decides she needs to solve the problem herself. Molly is trying to find a job and at the same time solve the murder.

Mystery and History

I am hooked!! I am a big fan of good mysteries, history books and anything Irish (my maiden name was Murphy!!) I picked this book up for a light summer read and I loved it. Molly Murphy is a fascinating character and the tale of her arrival in New York is interesting and pulls the reader in. You really get to know the characters, you care about them and you hope right along with them. Since finishing this, I have read Death of Riley and For the Love of Mike. I have become a huge fan of Rhys Bowen AND Molly Murphy! Very enjoyable reading and hard to put down!

Clever and Witty Mystery

First in a new series, this novel follows Irish immigrant Molly Murphy to New York and gives an excellent depiction of immigrant life there at the turn of the twentieth century. Molly Murphy is forced to flee her small Irish village when she accidentally kills the local landowner's son who attempts to rape her. Fleeing to England, she comes across Kathleen O'Connor, a woman who is sailing with her two children to America to meet her husband. As Mrs. O'Connor has tuberculosis and would be refused admission to the U.S., Molly agrees to take her place and escort the children there herself. But when colorful character O'Malley is murdered after arrival at Ellis Island, and Molly is a prime suspect, she must do her own investigative work to prove her innocence. As the reader shares in Molly's discovery of the sights and smells of early twentieth century New York, Molly travels the wintry city on foot searching for clues to the identity of the murderer. The only advantage she discovers in her new land is her acquaintance with Detective Daniel Sullivan, the handsome Irish-American who first considered her a suspect. In a clever combination of wit and mystery, Molly seems to get in one scrape after another, only to be bailed out by the attractive police captain. As it becomes apparent that Molly's life may be in danger, the reader is left to wonder if Daniel can save her in time. Ms. Bowen can do no wrong with a heroine as likeable as Molly with her combination of clever wit, curiosity, and determination. Lessons of history relating to corruption of Tammany Hall and the poverty of many immigrants are pleasingly inserted in the storyline to lend an air of reality to the read. With true mystery, colorful characters, and a splash of romance, future installments in this series can be eagerly anticipated.