Murder at Kingscote - (Gilded Newport Mystery) by Alyssa Maxwell (Paperback)

About the Book

"On a clear July day in 1899, the salty ocean breeze along Bellevue Avenue carries new smells of gasoline and exhaust as Emma, now editor-in-chief of the Newport Messenger, covers Newport's first-ever automobile parade. But the festive atmosphere soon turns to shock as young Philip King drunkenly swerves his motorcar into a wooden figure of a nanny pushing a pram on the obstacle course. That evening, at a dinner party hosted by Ella King at her magnificent Gothic-inspired "cottage," Kingscote, Emma and her beau Derrick Andrews are enjoying the food and the company when Ella's son staggers in, obviously still inebriated. But the disruption is nothing compared to the urgent shouts of the coachman. Rushing out, they find the family's butler pinned against a tree beneath the front wheels of Philip's motorcar, close to death. At first, the tragic tableau appears to be a reckless accident--one which could ruin Philip's reputation. But when Emma later receives a message informing her that the butler bullied his staff and took advantage of young maids, she begins to suspect the scene may have been staged and steers the police toward a murder investigation. But while Emma investigates the connections between a competing heir for the King fortune, a mysterious child, an inmate of an insane asylum, and the brutal boxing rings of Providence, a killer remains at large--with unfinished business to attend to..."--

Book Synopsis

In late nineteenth-century Newport, Rhode Island, journalist Emma Cross discovers the newest form of transportation has become the newest type of murder weapon...

On a clear July day in 1899, the salty ocean breeze along Bellevue Avenue carries new smells of gasoline and exhaust as Emma, now editor-in-chief of the Newport Messenger, covers Newport's first-ever automobile parade. But the festive atmosphere soon turns to shock as young Philip King drunkenly swerves his motorcar into a wooden figure of a nanny pushing a pram on the obstacle course.

That evening, at a dinner party hosted by Ella King at her magnificent Gothic-inspired "cottage," Kingscote, Emma and her beau Derrick Andrews are enjoying the food and the company when Ella's son staggers in, obviously still inebriated. But the disruption is nothing compared to the urgent shouts of the coachman. Rushing out, they find the family's butler pinned against a tree beneath the front wheels of Philip's motorcar, close to death.

When Emma later receives a message informing her that the butler bullied his staff and took advantage of young maids, she steers the police toward a murder investigation. While Emma investigates the connections between a competing heir for the King fortune, a mysterious child, an inmate of an insane asylum, and the brutal boxing rings of Providence, a killer remains at large--with unfinished business to attend to...

Review Quotes

Praise for Alyssa Maxwell and her Gilded Newport Mysteries!

MURDER AT CROSSWAYS

"Tightly plotted . . . Maxwell evokes the contrasts of Victorian Newport with her customary insight."
--Publishers Weekly

"Another tricky mystery set against the backdrop of some great real-life mansions, some of which remain open to anyone who wishes to visit."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Will appeal to those who enjoy historical mysteries with strong, ahead-of-their times female characters like Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher and Rhys Bowens' Molly Murphy."
--Booklist

"An intelligent, well-written mystery."
--Suspense Magazine

MURDER AT OCHRE COURT

"Plenty of red herrings and an intimate look at the world of the wealthy and famous make for a rich broth of a mystery."
--Kirkus Reviews

MURDER AT ROUGH POINT

"Emma is an interesting, independent career woman in this satisfying first-person account that includes well-drawn characters."
--Booklist

MURDER AT BEECHWOOD

"Another entertaining entry in this cozy series."
--Library Journal

MURDER AT MARBLE HOUSE

"Maxwell again deftly weaves fictional and real-life characters into her story."
--Publishers Weekly

MURDER AT THE BREAKERS

"Sorry to see the conclusion of Downton Abbey Season 4? Well, here is a morsel to get you through a long afternoon. Brew some Earl Grey and settle down with a scone with this one."
--Washington Independent Review of Books

About the Author

Alyssa Maxwell knew from an early age that she wanted to be a novelist. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles of all kinds drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband reside in Florida, where she loves to watch BBC productions, sip tea in the afternoons, and delve into the past. You can learn more about Alyssa and her books at www.alyssamaxwell.com.